Ole Miss Football Season Outlook

The following outlook is taken from this year's official team media guide, which includes complete player bios, stats, team record book and a showcase of the university and its sports. Click here to order a copy.

With the return of a 1,000-yard rusher in senior running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis and all but one starter back on the offensive forward wall, Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron enters the 2007 season knowing that running back and offensive line will be two strengths the Rebels can depend on as the rebuilding process continues in Oxford.

It will be Orgeron's third year at the helm of the Ole Miss football program, and he remains steadfast to his yearly goal. That goal, which he voiced on his first day on the job, is to always go to the Sugar Bowl and win it.

The Rebels may have suffered back-to-back losing seasons during Orgeron's first two years, but that hasn't diminished his resolve to get Ole Miss back in the bowl business sooner rather than later. Last year's team went 4-8, but it showed improvement over his 3-8 first year as the Rebels came so close to going 8-4, suffering disappointing overtime losses at Alabama and LSU, while dropping a five-point decision to Georgia and sustaining a six-point setback to Auburn. Eight of the 12 opponents in 2006 went to bowl games.

Since being named head coach prior to the 2005 season, Orgeron has used his recruiting skills to vastly upgrade the talent level of Ole Miss Football. Incoming signees are expected to play early and contribute right away in the toughest conference in the country.

That philosophy was never more evident than last year when 22 members of the 2006 signing class saw extensive game action, including 17 true freshmen. Ole Miss ranked second in the country with its 17 true freshmen seeing playing time and four Rebel rookies received freshman All-America honors. More of the same is expected from the class of 2007, as Orgeron builds a solid foundation to ensure long-term success.

Orgeron's third spring at Ole Miss had the No. 1 priority of rebuilding a linebacker corps hit hard by the loss of its top two tacklers to the National Football League.

It's no secret that the biggest loss on defense, and possibly the entire team, was consensus All-American Patrick Willis, the 2006 Butkus Award and Lambert Trophy winner as the nation's finest linebacker. Willis lived up to that billing when he was the first linebacker taken in the 2007 NFL Draft as the San Francisco 49ers made him the 11th overall pick.

Another key linebacker to be replaced is Rory Johnson, who decided to bypass his senior season to enter the NFL Draft and signed a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. A junior college transfer in 2006, Johnson played only one year with the Rebels, ranking second on the team to Willis' 137 tackles with 94 of his own.

"Our plan in the spring was to mix and match guys until we found the best three to play," Orgeron said. "The linebacker position is still wide open, and we will wait until the beginning of the season to announce our starters. We're counting on several of our new signees to be in the mix at linebacker when they report in August."

One of those incoming players being counted on is junior college All-America transfer Tony Fein, a 24-year old, 245-pound Army veteran who served a year in Iraq. Fein appears ticketed for the middle linebacker spot, which would free up sophomore Jonathan Cornell to move to the "Will" linebacker position.

Staying healthy up front on defense and having those linemen make plays will go a long way in helping keep blockers off the inexperienced linebacker corps. Three of the team's best defensive linemen Peria Jerry, Jeremy Garrett and Chris Bowers missed a total of 15 games between them last year due to injuries. The injury situation on the defensive line got so bad at one point that it pressed a pair of true freshmen, Greg Hardy and Marcus Tillman, into the lineup. Hardy and Tillman responded to Orgeron's call by both being named Freshman All-Americans.

Spring drills also concentrated on getting improvement and consistency from the quarterback position and more production from the wide receivers in an attempt to immediately turn around last year's poor offensive showing. A lack of success on third down (29 percent) led to several of those narrow losses in 2006 and being able to make plays in the passing game, especially the short passing game, is a must if the Rebels are to enjoy success on offense this fall.

Ole Miss returns 47 lettermen from a year ago, including nine players who were regular starters on offense and six more on defense. However, those totals don't really give a true picture when it comes to experience returning. In fact, of the returnees, 18 different players on offense and 12 on defense started at least one game last year, not including kickers.

Since the end of last season, Orgeron made some changes in his coaching staff, beginning with the hiring of veteran coach John Thompson as defensive coordinator. The addition of Thompson as DC has allowed Orgeron to become more involved with the offense and special teams, while taking on more of the role of a head coach. Orgeron had served as his own defensive coordinator his first two seasons with the Rebels. Thompson is also coaching defensive backs.

"We are excited to have John Thompson as our defensive coordinator," Orgeron said. "He did a fantastic job of capturing the defense in the spring. He put in a few new things that he likes to do, and that made it very difficult for the offense to pick up. John brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm and we love having him here."

David Corrao, who for the last two years has served on the staff as a defensive graduate assistant, was promoted to a full-time assistant coaching position and is coaching linebackers.

"I'm also real excited about David Corrao coaching the linebackers," Orgeron said. "He's a bright young coach that understands our scheme and I think he will do a very good job for us."

Tony Hughes, who coached defensive backs during his first two seasons at Ole Miss, is now coaching tight ends, while last year's tight ends coach, Hugh Freeze, has switched to the wide receivers. Freeze is continuing his duties as recruiting coordinator.

"Moving Hugh to coach our wide receivers produced immediate results in the spring," Orgeron said. "I think our receivers made a lot of improvement catching the ball. In the spring, we completed 70 percent of our passes on third down, and Seth Adams was 16-for-20 in the Red-Blue Game because our receivers caught the ball. We are headed in the right direction, and I think we have the right chemistry on offense."

No changes were made in responsibilities for offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Dan Werner, running backs coach Frank Wilson, associate head coach and offensive line coach Art Kehoe, defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen and special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach Chris Rippon.

A game with defending national champ Florida highlights one of the most attractive home conference schedules in recent years as the Gators are set to play at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 22.

Other SEC opponents visiting the Oxford campus include Alabama, Arkansas and LSU, while non-conference home games will be against Missouri, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State. Road trips will be to Memphis, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Auburn and Mississippi State.

QUARTERBACKS
Without a doubt, the most asked question around Ole Miss Football heading into the 2007 season centers around the quarterback position. Who will be the starter? That's a question head coach Ed Orgeron says still remains to be decided as the "open competition" is set to continue when preseason workouts begin in August.

Unlike a year ago when junior college transfer Brent Schaeffer was the clear-cut starter, that wasn't the case when spring drills ended. Schaeffer's biggest competition for the starting role is a former walk-on, senior Seth Adams, who earned a scholarship with the Rebels after transferring from Hinds Community College. Redshirt freshman Michael Herrick is also competing for playing time.

A year ago, Adams was just attempting to become Schaeffer's back-up, even though Schaeffer, who had been named the starter by Orgeron when he signed with the Rebels, was not on campus for spring workouts as he was still completing his degree from junior college.

After joining the team on reporting day in August, Schaeffer struggled at times during his first season at Ole Miss as he completed 115 of 244 passes for 1,442 yards and nine touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. Adams, who replaced Schaeffer in the second half of the LSU and Mississippi State games, completed 17-of-31 passes for 177 yards during limited action in 2006.

Adams was more consistent than Schaeffer during spring drills and had an outstanding Red-Blue game when he completed 16-of-20 passes for 159 yards and one TD while leading the Blue squad to a 23-21 victory.

Still, no clear-cut starter emerged by the end of spring drills, although Orgeron did admit Adams had a better spring. "That doesn't mean Brent can't win the job," Orgeron said. "Brent's going to have to beat out Seth if he is to be the starter."

Another quarterback who went through spring drills was sophomore Jevan Snead, a January transfer to Ole Miss from the University of Texas. Although he must sit out this season, Snead, one of the nation's top high school quarterbacks two years ago, still got plenty of work with the first and second offensive units. He will have three years of eligibility remaining when the 2008 season begins.

"What we need to see from our quarterbacks is consistency," Orgeron said. "Are they making the right choices and right throws? Are they able to run the offense? We need to improve on our passing game."

RUNNING BACKS
One of the top returnees on offense is senior first team All-SEC running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis, who rushed for 1,000 yards as a junior when he became only the third player in Ole Miss history to gain 1,000 yards or more rushing. John "Kayo" Dottley did it twice (1949 and 1950) and Deuce McAllister cracked the 1,000-yard barrier once (1998) during his career.

After transferring from Indiana and having to sit out the 2005 campaign due to the NCAA transfer rule, Green-Ellis showed no ill effects from the year-long layoff as he promptly ranked third among all SEC rushers with his 1,000 yards on 234 carries, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and scoring seven touchdowns. Green-Ellis received the Jeff Hamm Award as the Most Improved Offensive Player of the 2007 spring workouts, making him the first player in school history to win that award two years in a row.

Other returning lettermen at the tailback position include senior Bruce Hall, sophomore Cordera Eason and senior Hiram White. Hall has settled in at the position after having been switched from quarterback last season, while the highly-touted Eason has begun showing he can be the back of the future for the Rebels.

"We feel that BenJarvus will be one of the best backs in the country this season," Orgeron said. "BenJarvus is very strong, a hard worker and a good leader. We're going to have to feature him, but Cordera must be ready to take that spot a year from now."

Junior Jason Cook has returned to his starting fullback spot, with redshirt freshman Reggie Hicks and sophomore returning letterman Andy Hartmann expected to compete for playing time. Cook used the spring to show big improvement with his ability to catch the ball and make plays, while Hicks has demonstrated he can play fullback, tailback or tight end. Another player expected to help provide depth is redshirt freshman Derrick Davis, who is bouncing back from a high school injury.

"I think our running game was pretty good last year, although we still need to have some improvement in it," Orgeron said. "We need to create situations where we are scoring more touchdowns."

OFFENSIVE LINE
When Orgeron arrived at Ole Miss as head coach prior to the 2005 season, it became evident to him early on that the Rebels had to develop a bigger and stronger offensive line in order to survive the weekly battles in the rugged Southeastern Conference. Heading into his third season at Ole Miss, he is now looking at an offensive line that averages from 315 to 330 pounds up front.

"We still need to create depth," he says. "I think the offensive line is going to be the strength of our team along with the running of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bruce Hall and Cordera Eason."

The Rebels have returned four of the five interior offensive line starters, with only left guard Andrew Wicker, who signed a free-agent contract with the New York Jets, having to be replaced.

Starters returning include junior left tackle Michael Oher, senior center Corey Actis, sophomore right guard John Jerry and junior right tackle Maurice Miller. Actis has become the leader of the offensive line and is making all the calls, while Jerry, a freshman All-American last year, is coming off an outstanding spring and Oher, a 2007 first team preseason All-America pick, continues to improve.

Veteran senior linemen Darryl Harris, Marcus Cohen and Thomas Eckers and sophomore Reid Neely are returning lettermen. Sophomore junior college transfer Mark Jean-Louis joined the team in January and participated in his first Ole Miss spring workouts. When the spring ended, Neely had emerged as the starter at left guard, with Orgeron calling him "the most improved player on the team."

TIGHT ENDS
Another position that has Orgeron excited is tight end, which returns seniors Robert Lane and Robert Hough. Lane started four games at tight end in 2006 while last year's senior tight end, Lawrence Lilly, started eight.

After coming to Ole Miss as a quarterback, Lane has continued to make a lot of progress since moving to tight end, having added important size and strength while learning the position. He remains one of the more versatile players on the team and a year ago started four games at tight end, two at fullback and two at H-Back. Lane, who led the tight ends in receiving with 11 catches for 155 yards, is considered a playmaker and has the ability to turn the short passing game into big yardage opportunities.

Additional depth was added in the spring when junior David Traxler, who saw action at both guard and tackle during his first two seasons at Ole Miss, was moved to tight end. Traxler=s switch was designed to help the tight end position become a little more physical, and he is expected to have an impact, especially in the run game, while also contributing in the short passing game.

WIDE RECEIVERS
The wide receiver position returns players who were credited with 130 of the team's 134 receptions from a year ago, but only nine touchdowns. Getting more production from that corps was a high priority in the spring. Junior Mike Wallace led all receivers last year with 24 receptions for 410 yards and two TDs as he averaged 17.1 yards per reception.

The return of sophomore wide receiver-kick returner Dexter McCluster, who missed the second half of the season after sustaining head and shoulder injuries on the opening kickoff against Vanderbilt, gives the Rebels a player to make big plays and score touchdowns.

One player missing from spring drills was junior Mico McSwain, who bypassed the workouts to concentrate on academics. McSwain contributed last year as a running back and wide receiver, but was expected to be a full-time wide receiver in the spring.

Other wide receivers returning who lettered last year include sophomores Marshay Green, Shay Hodge, Kendrick Lewis and Michael Hicks. Hodge used the spring to become an improved player in terms of catching the football, and Green is considered a playmaker and highly competitive.

With returning depth and the addition of several incoming players, the wide receivers are expected to form a much-improved unit. Still, with so much youth at the position, there appears to be an urgency for that group to grow up fast.

DEFENSIVE LINE
When it comes to the defensive line, the Rebels may not have a lot of depth, but the signs are there for Ole Miss to be strong up front this season. "Obviously we still have some holes to fill, but we believe our starting four will be very strong," Orgeron said.

Junior defensive lineman Peria Jerry, who was a major contributor last season while being limited with an injury, missed spring drills, but should be at full speed by the start of fall camp.

Players expected to be in the running for those four starting spots include Jerry, redshirt freshman Kentrell Lockett, sophomores Marcus Tillman, Greg Hardy and Daverin Geralds, junior Chris Bowers and seniors Jeremy Garrett, Brandon Jenkins and Viciente DeLoach. Sophomore LaMark Armour, who lettered as a true freshman two years ago, was redshirted in 2006 and is also back.

Tillman received the Jeff Hamm Award as the Most Improved Defensive Player of spring drills, Lockett and Geralds are also much improved and Hardy showed progress during the latter stages of spring workouts after re-joining the football squad at the conclusion of basketball season. Tillman and Hardy are coming off a season which earned them Freshman All-America status.

Orgeron feels Garrett could be a leader on the defense. Garrett won the 2007 Chucky Mullins Courage Award and will honor the late Mullins by wearing a No. 38 patch on the left shoulder of his jersey.

"Jeremy really works hard," Orgeron said. "If he can stay healthy, he can be a leader, but other guys have to come to the front. We're looking for leaders. We still have some work to do on defense, and we're going to try to put the best people in the best positions to make plays. We also have more defensive linemen coming in this fall who we feel can contribute right away."

LINEBACKERS
In consensus All-American Patrick Willis, the 2006 Butkus Award and Lambert Trophy winner as the nation's finest linebacker, Ole Miss must attempt to replace the most decorated defensive player in Rebel football history. Willis completed his four-year Ole Miss career by leading the Rebels in tackles his final two seasons, including 137 during his senior campaign. Willis also led the Southeastern Conference in tackles both years and was a two-time SEC Defensive Player of the Year.

Another key linebacker to be replaced is Rory Johnson, who decided to bypass his senior season to enter the National Football League Draft. Johnson was not drafted, but did sign a free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers. A junior college transfer in 2006, he played only one year with the Rebels, ranking second to Willis in tackles with 94.

The third linebacker starter a year ago, Garry Pack, was dismissed from the team late in the season and is not back for what would have been his senior season. Starting strong safety Jamarca Sanford ably filled Pack's position the last four games of 2006, but has returned to his regular spot in the secondary.

While the plan in the spring was to find the best three linebackers available to play, Orgeron is keeping the position open in order to evaluate incoming players who just might earn a starting role.

"We're counting on several of our new signees to be in the mix when they report in August," he said. "We may not announce our starters at linebacker until right before the opening game."

Sophomore Jonathan Cornell, who started the LSU game last fall, and junior Brandon Thomas are returnees who saw some playing time at linebacker a year ago and both worked at the "Mike" spot in the spring. Orgeron felt Cornell had a "good spring" and also noted the improved play of junior Antonio Turner, junior college transfer Ashlee Palmer, redshirt freshman Allen Walker and sophomore Jamie Phillips, who made a big impression after transferring from Northwest (Miss.) Community College.

DEFENSIVE BACKS
Another area which drew plenty of attention in the spring was the secondary, which is having to replace four-year lettermen Trumaine McBride and Charles Clark. McBride was drafted in the seventh round by the Chicago Bears.

Senior Nate Banks, junior Dustin Mouzon and sophomore Cassius Vaughn entered the spring looking for starting jobs at the corners, while junior Jamarca Sanford, junior Terrell Jackson, junior college transfer Ashlee Palmer and redshirt freshmen Markeith Summers and Allen Walker started out competing for the two starting safety spots. However, Walker and Palmer were moved to the depleted linebacker position. Quick and athletic, Palmer has shown the versatility to play several different positions.

Another player who emerged in the secondary was sophomore Kendrick Lewis, who was switched from wide receiver to free safety, a position which appears to still be wide open. Also, a couple of incoming freshmen are expected to compete for playing time.

SPECIAL TEAMS
Orgeron has always placed a major emphasis on special teams play and the 2007 season will be no exception. Getting the best of the best on the various special teams units is always a priority.

The kicking game, which returns sophomore place-kicker Joshua Shene and junior punter Rob Park, is expected to be a strength for the Rebels. As a true freshman in 2006, Shene led the team in scoring with 62 points as he made all 20 extra-point attempts and 14-of-17 field goal tries, with a long of 52 yards. Shene's performance earned him freshman All-America honors.

Park, who also holds on placements, averaged 38.9 yards on 58 punts a year ago as he put 16 inside the 20-yard line and had 10 fair caught. Another key returnee to the special teams is sophomore long-snapper Preston Powers.

There is also great ability in the return game with sophomores Dexter McCluster and Marshay Green leading the way. Green averaged 25.2 yards per kickoff return and 11.2 yards per punt return last year, while McCluster averaged 21.1 yards per kickoff return before seeing his season come to an early end with an injury against Vanderbilt.

While the Rebels lost some outstanding players who were involved in last year's protection, coverage, punt block and return packages, some potential stars for those units emerged during spring drills. It's also certain that some newcomers to the program will get their chance to contribute right away to the special teams.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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