The University of Mississippi Athletics
A Closer Look: Cornerbacks
1/18/2018 | Football, Blog
This is the eighth of a 10-part position-by-position series looking back at the 2017 season, as well as previewing what lies ahead for Ole Miss football in 2018.
Top Performer: Myles Hartsfield (29 solo tackles, 14 assisted tackles, 43 total tackles, two interceptions four TFLs), Ken Webster (21 solo tackles, eight assisted tackles, 29 total tackles), Javien Hamilton (20 total tackles, three INTs)Returning in 2018: Webster (Sr., 3L), Hamilton (Sr., 1L), Hartsfield (Jr., 2L), D.D. Bowie (So., 1L), Montrell Custis (Jr., 2L)
Newcomers in 2018: Kedrion Smith (Fr., Palm Beach, Fla.)Losing from 2017 Team: Jalen Julius (Transfer)
Looking back at 2017: The first thing that really comes to mind when thinking of the Ole Miss defensive backs in 2017 is the resurgence of Ken Webster. The rising senior overcame a gruesome leg injury in the 2016 season opener, leaving some questioning whether he'd ever get back to full strength. Webster did that and then some this season. He had 29 tackles in 10 games and had a pair of break ups and passes deflections. Webster didn't get thrown on a whole lot, and that is certainly good news for the Rebels.Outside of that, Javien Hamilton, a junior college transfer playing his first division one season was really good for the Rebels too. He had three interceptions five pass break ups and eight deflections. He was a tremendous addition to what was still a relatively young secondary last fall. Throw in Myles Hartsfield playing well in his first full season of starting and this was a pretty solid group.
The good news? Everyone in this group returns again in 2018.Looking ahead to 2018: Given the fact the Rebels return their entire two deep depth chart at cornerback from a year ago, this group should be strong again in 2018. Ole Miss will have the senior leadership of Webster on the field with upperclassmen Hartsfield and Hamilton alongside him. The only loss in this group is Jalen Julius, who is transferring, but all starters return next season and Julius' role with the team at full strength would have been unclear. If Ole Miss can stay healthy, they should feel pretty good about they match up to most opponents' vertical passing game. Not to mention, it can't hurt this group goes up against the likes of D.K. Metcalf, Damarkus Lodge and A.J. Brown in practice on a daily basis.
The secondary as a whole picked off just eight passes in 2017, two of which came in the season finale against Mississippi State. It will be interesting to see how that number compares to the total next season with so much experience coming back on the outside at cornerback. The team should feel pretty good about where it stands at this position in 2018.A Closer Look:
- Running Backs (Jan. 8)
- Quarterbacks (Jan. 9)
- Wide Receivers (Jan. 10)
- Tight Ends (Jan. 11)
- Offensive Line (Jan. 15)
- Defensive Line (Jan. 16)
- Linebackers (Jan. 17)
- Cornerbacks (Jan. 18)
- Safeties (Jan. 19)
- Special Teams (Jan. 22)
