Rebels vs. Bulldogs Week 13: Offensive Players to Watch
The Ole Miss Rebels wrap up the regular season on Nov. 23 against Mississippi State at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Bulldogs will be starting a new era for 2023 as Zach Arnett begins his first season at the helm as head coach.
Kevin Barbay takes over as the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator and will bring a much different-looking offense than Mississippi State fans are used to seeing. But with the return of some key experienced offensive pieces, the transition should be smooth.
Senior signal caller Will Rogers should anchor that offense as he approaches 11,000 career passing yards. He achieved that total behind the Air Raid scheme, but his accuracy should enable him to be proficient in Barbay's more balanced scheme as well.
Last season, averaged 31.6 points and 392.9 yards per game, which both ranked eighth in the conference. But this is a new scheme and a different offense.
Here are important offensive players to watch when the Rebels close the season against the Bulldogs on Nov. 23.
QB Will Rogers
USA Today
Quarterback Will Rogers is the engine that makes this Mississippi State's offense thrive. Under the tutelage of former head coach Mike Leach, Rogers was third in the country with 4,739 yards and 36 touchdowns in 2021, following that up with 3,974 yards and 35 scores in 2022. In both years, he led the country in completions with 920 across the last two seasons.
Against the Rebels last season, Rogers completed 69.2 percent of his 39 pass attempts for 239 yards, two touchdowns and one pick. He was named one of the top-35 quarterbacks on the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award Preseason Watch List Tuesday.
There shouldn't be any reason for the Bulldogs to take the ball out of Rogers' hands in 2023, but he will have to find some new targets to throw to.
RB Jo'Quavious Marks
In addition to rushing for 582 yards, 5.2 yards per carry, and nine touchdowns, running back Jo'Quavious Marks had the second-most receptions of any running back with 48, trailing Northwestern's Evan Hull by seven catches.
While Marks plays a vital role in running routes and catching passes out of the backfield as an outlet for Rogers, the Bulldogs return four of their five starting offensive lineman which means many of the running lanes he had to work with last year will likely be available again in 2023.
WR Lideatrick Griffin
USA Today
There are probably at least three or four receivers that could have been put here because of Rogers' innate ability to evenly distribute the ball.
Last season, wide receiver Lideatrick Griffin was one of nine pass-catchers to bring in at least 30 receptions. He was the beneficiary of 40 of Rogers' passes for 502 yards and four touchdowns.
Wide receivers Rufus Harvey, Caleb Ducking, Rara Thomas, and running back Dillon Johnson all entered the transfer portal and Austin Williams graduated, so there will be plenty of opportunities for new faces to step up.
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