Persistence pays off

Persistence pays off

Burdette visits local fifth grade class

Always work hard and never give up.

That was the message when Ole Miss freshman Quintavius Burdette visited fifth graders at Senatobia Middle School last week.

credit: Ole Miss Athletics

Burdette graduated from Senatobia High School last year and signed a scholarship to play football under new head coach Hugh Freeze, himself a Senatobia High School graduate and a native of Independence.

Burdette moved to Oxford right after his high school graduation to participate in the team’s offseason conditioning program and it didn’t take long for coaches to take notice of his work ethic. Strength Coach Paul Jackson, who spends more time with the team than anyone during the offseason, said that Burdette was ahead of many of his fellow freshman in both the weight room and the film room, adding that he thought Burdette would be able to play quickly.

And play quickly he did. Burdette, a defensive back who also plays special teams for the Rebels, registered the first tackle of the Hugh Freeze-era at Ole Miss during the season opening kickoff against the University of Central Arkansas.

Nothing comes easy

But, as he told the students last week, things didn’t always come easy for him.

Burdette said that he was a kid in middle school who would always get into mischief.

“I didn’t really worry about school or my grades until after ninth grade,” Burdette said. “I was the kid who sat in class having fun and joking around. Grades just weren’t that important to me.”

Burdette made an instant impact for the Warriors on the field playing running back as a freshman in high school. It was after that season that Burdette said someone pulled him aside and told him that he could be good enough to play football in college but that he needed to straighten up and keep working on his grades in order to do so.

From that point on Burdette said that he made sure to work as hard in the classroom as he did on the field. His hard work paid off, as he was inducted into the Senatobia High School Beta Club as a senior. He also earned a 3.8 grade point average.

Senatobia High School head football coach and athletic director Phil Oakley had high words of praise for Burdette when he signed with the Rebels in February.

“I think his smarts and his speed are his biggest attributes, as well as his leadership ability. He’s been a good leader for us, even before he was a senior. He gets his books. He minds his manners. You’re not going to find him roaming the streets at 12:30 or 1 at night. He’s just a good all-around kid. I think Coach Freeze saw that in him. He’s going to be a plus for the program down there,” Oakley said. “It means a lot to me to see a young man like Quintavius who has taken care of his business and done what he is supposed to do through the years get rewarded for it.”

Commitment is key

Burdette told the students that they can accomplish great things if they commit themselves to their studies.

“You have to be accountable for your actions. You don’t need to just procrastinate and barely get by. It’s a different ball game in college, and you have to be responsible for yourself,” Burdette said. “No one is there to wake you up and make sure you go to class, you have to make sure that you get up and you go. If I don’t go to class, I don’t get to play. It’s that simple.”

Burdette said that he believed it was important for him to use his status as a college football player to be a positive role model for the children here in the community.

“Kids in Senatobia are sometimes overlooked and led down the wrong path. This is a small town and they will follow whoever is around or the guy (who is there) at the moment. Sometimes that is not the right choice,” Burdette said. “I want to be that guy they use as an example to say people here in Senatobia can make it. I want them to follow someone who is trying to do it right. And I want to show them the importance of grades!”

 

After Burdette introduced himself to the class, he greeted each student individually, asking their names.

“I know a lot of you knew me, but I didn’t know many of you when I came in here. Now I do. I probably won’t remember your names but I know your faces now,” Burdette said, adding that he expected to hear good things about them.

Each of his new friends also came away with Burdette’s autograph.

Goal:Met. Prayer: Answered.

In honor of the beginning of the college football season, I figured I would post a previously published story that I wrote regarding Hugh Freeze, a Tate County native now entering his first season as head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels.

(As published in The Democrat on December 20, 2011.)

Goal: Met. Prayer: Answered.

 Tate County’s Hugh Freeze lands dream job

 

Senatobia native Hugh Freeze has been named the University of Mississippi’s 37th head football coach.

Archie Manning, a former Ole Miss and NFL quarterback, who was chosen to co-lead a search committee along with Fed Ex Executive Vice President of Market Development and Corporate Communications Mike Glenn, announced the decision via video on www.olemisssports.com last week.

Freeze, who served as the head football coach at Arkansas State University this season, led the Red Wolves to a 10-2 record and the Sun Belt Conference Championship. Prior to 2011, Freeze’s first season as head coach, the Red Wolves had never finished a season with a winning record since the team moved to the Football Bowl Championship Subdivision.

Football: ministry?

In his public introduction press conference, held in front of a capacity-plus crowd on campus at the Gertrude Castellow Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Freeze thanked those responsible for his hiring, and said he was especially thankful for his family.

“I’d like to thank my family,” an emotional Freeze said, “I’ve taken them all around the nation to get back to one place, and that’s right here at THE University of Mississippi.”

At the end of a fiery opening speech, one reporter asked Freeze, jokingly, if he’d ever considered getting into ministry.

“Absolutely, I feel blessed by God, and I think this is the ministry,” Freeze said. “All joking aside, I’m so far from perfect, but I know where my forgiveness comes from and I’m blessed to be here. I wake up every morning knowing God’s goodness to me.”

“This is home”

Freeze also told the crowd that the job is the one he had always wanted and that he never wants to leave.

“This is a destination place for me. It is not a stop along the path. It’s where I want to live. It’s where I want to be. It’s where I want to retire. This is home to me,” Freeze said.

It’s difficult to doubt his sincerity when he talks of “home,” as Freeze grew up in Independence and graduated from Senatobia High School in 1988 before attending Northwest and later graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is the son of Danny and Rita (Walker) Freeze.

In a recent story for The Democrat, Freeze said that he felt blessed to have grown up in Tate County.

“I’m blessed to be a Tate County boy. That’s home to me. My parents and grandparents and so many friends are there, and when I was growing up, they all raised you,” Freeze said.  “I’m very blessed to have so many good friends there and to be raised there in Tate County and to go to High School in Senatobia.”

“Some of my dearest friends are still the friends that I had from those days,” Freeze said.

Influencing an influence

Oakley

Phil Oakley, currently the head coach of the Senatobia High School football team, coached Freeze in high school, and is a person Freeze said he considered one of his early influences. Oakley was thrilled to hear that Freeze had gotten the Ole Miss job.

“I am proud to say that I happened to be just a small portion of his life.  He has always been a blessing to me and now some other young people, who choose to attend Ole Miss, will receive that same blessing.  As we like to say at Senatobia High  ‘It is a great day to be a Warrior’ and this is especially true when former students represent your school the way Hugh Freeze has and will,” Oakley said, “Hugh Freeze will represent himself, his family, Senatobia High School and the University of Mississippi like no other. “

Faith and family

Former Independence High School and Senatobia High School football coach Jerry Barrett has been a close friend of the Freeze family for years, and is another person Freeze said he considers an influence. Barrett has had the opportunity to watch Hugh grow up, both in the game and in life.

“His dad helped me coach out at Independence for a long time. We went to church with Hugh and his family and they were all churchgoing people, Christian people, and in my opinion, none of that has changed. He’s still who he is,” Barrett said. “I think he’ll always be who he really is. I don’t think anything like this will change him. Internally, I don’t think any of this fame and fortune, this great job, will ever change any of that. I think his head is screwed on right and I think it will stay that way, simply because of the way his mother and father have raised him.”

Mission accomplished

Barrett said that to become the head coach at Ole Miss is the goal that Hugh has always wanted to accomplish.

“This is something that is a goal that he always wanted to pursue, and I think he’s pursued it the right way, putting things in perspective and in the right order. I think people who go about things in the right way usually reach those goals and, to me, that’s what it’s all about,” Barrett said.

Winning.

Freeze is known throughout the football community for his offensive prowess. He’s widely regarded as one of the best young minds in the game, and his tendency to think outside of the proverbial box has proven very successful at every stop he has made on his coaching journey.

As head coach at Briarcrest Christian School in Memphis, Freeze’s football teams won state championships in 2002 and 2004, as well as regional championships in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002. Freeze was named Region 8-AA Coach of the year five times as well as Associated Press Coach of the Year four times. It was at Briarcrest that Freeze coached Michael Oher of The Blind Side fame and now starting offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens, and Greg Hardy who would also go on to Ole Miss and is a starting defensive lineman for the Carolina Panthers.

Freeze joined Coach Ed Orgeron’s staff at Ole Miss in 2005 as Assistant Athletics Director for Football External Affairs and became an assistant coach the next year, coaching wide receivers, which included future NFL stars Dexter McCluster of the Kansas City Chiefs and Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Following Orgeron’s dismissal in 2007, Freeze landed as head coach at Lambuth University, where his teams compiled a 20-5 record over two seasons, leading to Freeze being named the American Football Coaches Association’s Southeast Region Coach of the year in 2009.

Freeze spent the next season as Offensive Coordinator at Arkansas State, before being named Head Coach of the Red Wolves prior to the 2011 season. As coordinator, Freeze’s offense improved from 95th in the nation in total offensive production and 90th in scoring offense the year before Freeze arrived, to 43rd and 45th, respectively.

This season, in his first as head coach, the Red Wolves improved further, currently ranked 25th in total offense, as well as 20th in total defense.

‘A learning process’

Barrett

Barrett said he doesn’t think that Freeze has reached his ceiling yet, so to speak, and that he will continue to improve as a coach.

“I think he is in a learning process. He hasn’t maxed out by any means. He’s just 42 years old. He’s still learning and will continue to learn. He changes with the game,” Barrett said.

“He’s been around football all his life. Not necessarily with Coach David Fly who started football out at Independence, but Danny Freeze played for Coach Fly and learned a lot of football from him and then when Hugh was born, he stayed in football,” Barrett said. “Danny and I started coaching (at Independence) together and Hugh was a manager when he was really little. He started playing when he got older.”

Barrett said that he believes that it’s not only the amount of time Freeze has spent around football, but his flexibility and adaptability that makes him successful.

“He has learned, but then again he hasn’t been entranced in ‘This is the way it’s got to be.’ He’s learned to change and has been able to evolve with the game. I think that’s a real key to his success, because he knows how to modify, but yet he knows the basics of the game, which are blocking, tackling, the kicking game and things like that. He’s able to realize what is important in the game, but he is also able to affect the game to the point where he uses the kids’ abilities to the best of his ability and makes it all work as a team effort,” Barrett said.

Barrett said that he was proud, but apprehensive when he learned that Freeze had gotten the job at Ole Miss. He said that he was proud because he knew how hard Freeze had worked his entire career to get to that point, but apprehensive because he knew that taking a job of that magnitude comes with a tremendous responsibility.

The pride of Tate County

The community reaction has been, almost unanimously positive, from supporters of Ole Miss and Mississippi State alike, according to Barrett.

“I haven’t heard anything but good things in the community. You may hear a negative vibe here and there, but overall it’s been really positive and really good. The people of Senatobia are real proud for him. They’re proud for themselves to know that somebody from the University of Mississippi thinks that highly of someone from Mississippi and from Tate County,” Barrett said. “I think we all had a part in this situation because he went to school at Independence and at Senatobia, and a lot of people have had an influence on his life and have helped mold some of his beliefs. I think that’s an important factor in all of this. I think it helps us as Mississippians to know that he is a true Mississippian at the University of Mississippi. I think that will help a lot in recruiting and in people wanting to go to the games.”

Brewer

Jerry Brewer, a local business owner and 1970 graduate of Mississippi State University, said that despite his allegiance to the Bulldogs, Freeze, as a fellow Senatobian, has his support. Brewer welcomed Freeze back to Mississippi with a congratulatory message on his business’ marquee.

"We should all feel good that a Senatobian has achieved so much in such a relatively little time.  Hugh is no doubt a successful coach but more than that he is a successful human being because he puts Christ first and isn't ashamed to say so," Brewer said. “Mississippi did well to hire Hugh Freeze and the SEC cadre of head coaches will be elevated by his addition.  I don't think he'll ever do anything that will embarrass the school or the state or his hometown.  He is just a first class person.  Even though I hope State continues its Egg Bowl win streak, I nonetheless wish him success at the school up north!"

Oakley knows first-hand the effect that Freeze’s hiring could have on recruiting in the state of Mississippi. His quarterback, Quintavius Burdette, committed to play for Freeze at Arkansas State. Since the coaching change, however, Burdette may be looking at a change of plans.

“We had a player verbally commit to Arkansas State back in the summer and when all of this happened I spoke to him about his commitment and he said, ‘Coach, I want to go to wherever Coach Freeze is, no matter how.’  If Hugh Freeze can do this with one recruit, what can he do to others?“ Oakley said.

When asked why he committed to Freeze, Burdette made mention of Freeze’s character as well as his prowess on the offensive side of the football.

“He is a Christian man and if you like offense there's no better man to play for than Coach Freeze,” Burdette said. “I want to play for Coach Freeze.”

Work hard and dream big

In an earlier story for The Democrat, Freeze was asked if he had any advice for others growing up in Tate County as he did, his message was direct.

“Dream big. Refuse to believe that because of your background or your circumstances, whatever the status of your life is at this point, you can’t change that. Have tremendous faith in God and work extremely hard and dream big dreams,” Freeze said.

A new era is dawning for the University of Mississippi. Only time will tell whether or not Freeze’s Rebels will be successful, but for one county in North Mississippi, confidence has never been higher, and for one Tate County man, it’s time to start living a dream.

Rebel with a cause

I thought that, in honor of the kickoff of the college season, I would post a story I've had published regarding Quintavius Burdette, a Senatobia High School product who is beginning his freshman career at Ole Miss.

(As published in The Democrat on February 7, 2012)

Rebel with a cause

Burdette signs with Ole Miss, eager to represent his home state

Tate County has long been home to great football, boasting an impressive track record in recent years of sending players on to play major college football.

Just last year, the Mississippi State Bulldogs had three starters with Tate County roots, with Addison and Cameron Lawrence, formerly of Magnolia Heights School, and Quentin Saulsberry, formerly of Independence High School.

Senatobia High School’s Quintavius Burdette is next in line, officially faxing in a National of Letter of Intent to play football for the University of Mississippi.

Each year on National Signing Day, which took place Feb. 1, high school players from across the country have the opportunity to make official their commitments to their future schools by mailing in their LOI’s accepting scholarship offers.

For Burdette, his decision was simple: he wanted to play for Head Coach Hugh Freeze.

“Hugh Freeze has moved places a bit but that is who I wanted to play for anyway,” Burdette said. “He’s from the same town I’m from and he knows how it feels to come from this little town.”

Burdette committed to Freeze while he was the head coach at Arkansas State University. Freeze accepted the head-coaching job at Ole Miss after leading the Red Wolves to a 10-2 record in his first season as head coach.

Patience pays off

Freeze’s change left Burdette in what many would consider to be a difficult position, not knowing whether to seek new options or to hold out hope for a scholarship offer from Freeze at Ole Miss. Burdette, however, was able to keep the situation in perspective.

“I was being very patient. I didn’t just rule them out. I knew that he was going to come through for me and he did,” Burdette said.

That opportunity came during Burdette’s official visit to the Ole Miss campus on the weekend of Jan. 29, when he got word that he had indeed received that scholarship offer. He wasted no time in making his commitment.

In addition to his admiration for Freeze, the chance to stay close to home and represent his home state was impossible to turn down.

“I liked the school and I liked Coach Freeze so when he moved and then he offered me, there was no doubt that I was going to commit to Ole Miss,” Burdette said. “I’m a Mississippi boy. I’ve got to play for my home state.”

Another factor in his decision was the official visit and the chance to get to know his future teammates.

“It was a good feeling because I was down there with the guys that I’m going to be with next year and they really took care of me; not only my host, but all the other players. The upperclassmen really made sure that everyone was good to go and that everyone had what they needed. I liked that a lot,” Burdette said, adding that he’d have no trouble at all blending into the team’s chemistry.

On his official visit, Burdette had the opportunity to stay on campus at The Inn at Ole Miss, and said that he considers it to be one of the most important elements of his visit.

“The campus is great. I loved the campus, especially the hotel we were staying in. I’ve never stayed in a hotel like that in my life and I stayed in that one while on the Ole Miss campus. There are many hotels, but they don’t look as good as that one on campus did,” Burdette said.  “I liked that. The food was great, too.”

A multi-dimensional threat

While it is official that Burdette will attend Ole Miss, the position he will settle into for the Rebels is still up in the air.

“They’re recruiting me as an athlete, but I’ve been talking to the defensive backs coach more than anyone. He was telling me that I’m going to play defense, but that if there are some plays on offense, I could sub in there and also do kick returns and punt returns,” Burdette said.

Burdette did a little bit of everything during his time with the Warriors, having played running back up until his senior season when he moved over to the quarterback position. Burdette also played defense up until his senior season as well.

While many are projecting him to play on defense on the next level, his talents on the offensive side of the ball may be too much to ignore, and running back and wide receiver remain options.

Despite having never played wide receiver for the Warriors, Burdette was invited to participate in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic game in Biloxi as a wide receiver.

Burdette led all receivers in the game with 55 yards receiving, including a 48-yard reception that was the longest offensive play of the game.

Burdette said he shrugged off the notion of the difficulty of learning the new position.

“It was like I always say, I’m not just a running back. I’m a football player. For me to change positions like that, I had to work on it for a couple of weeks beforehand, but after I worked on it, it came like second nature, just like football in general,” Burdette said.

As far as where he ends up playing in college, it’s something that he says he isn’t concerned about.

“It doesn’t matter to me what position I play,” Burdette said, “I just want to play football.”

Senatobia Head Coach Phil Oakley said that Burdette possesses the skill set necessarily to settle in and contribute on the next level.

“He’s got all of the tools and he’s got a lot of potential that he hasn’t reached yet. I know that when he gets over there and gets in the program, he’s going to bulk up. He ran a 4.53 (40-yard dash) electronically timed at Ole Miss. I think that’s going to get better too,” Oakley said.

And, while Oakley can’t say for sure that the results will come right away, he fully expects Burdette to become an impact player for the Rebels.

“He may redshirt the first year or he may play a little bit of special teams, but before it’s over with, he’s going to work hard enough and compete hard enough to play,” Oakley said. “He just loves competing.”

Burdette feels like his strength is his skill with the football, on either side of the ball.

“I feel like being around the ball is my strength. Being around the ball, period,” Burdette said. “Sitting back and watching is not what I do best. I’ve got to be active, so being active is a strength.”

And while he acknowledges that there are areas of his game that he needs to improve on, he believes his work ethic will make for easier improvements.

“All football players have areas to work on. It’s all about whether you put in work and I’m willing to work,” Burdette said.

Looking ahead

For Oakley, Burdette’s biggest strengths are not only physical, but also mental. Burdette has accumulated a 3.8 grade point average and has scored an 18 on the ACT.

“I think his smarts and his speed are his biggest attributes, as well as his leadership ability,” Oakley said. “He’s been a good leader for us, even before he was a senior. He gets his books. He minds his manners. You’re not going to find him roaming the streets at 12:30 or 1 at night. He’s just a good all-around kid. I think Coach Freeze saw that in him. He’s going to be a plus for the program down there.”

Oakley said that it means a lot to see his players go on to the Division I level.

“Guys like this are few and far between. The last one that we had was Jeremy Garrett. This reminds me so much of the Jeremy Garrett situation because he was kind of a last-minute offer,” Oakley said. “It means a lot to me personally. I’m not in this for me, but it means a lot to me to see a young man like Quintavius who has taken care of his business and done what he is supposed to do through the years get rewarded for it.”

Garrett went on to start for the Rebels as a senior and received the 2007 Chucky Mullins Courage Award, received annually by a standout defensive player in honor of the late Chucky Mullins, who was paralyzed during a game against Vanderbilt in 1989.

As for his future, Burdette already has his goals laid out.

“My first goal is to be a Freshman All-American. Everything else would take care of itself after that. I also want to be on the honor roll,” Burdette said. “I’m most looking forward to playing in the SEC and experiencing that feeling.”

 

Rebels look to rebuild, rebound

(as published in The Democrat on August 16, 2011)


Outlook
Ole Miss Head Coach Houston Nutt, having led the Rebels to back-to-back Cotton Bowl appearance in his first two seasons at the school, the first time the Rebels have participated in New Year’s Day bowl games in consecutive season in 50 years, finds himself in a different position heading into the 2011 season. Rather than celebrating another successful season, Rebel fans everywhere are left nursing their wounds and scratching their heads wondering what went wrong. Though it may be a bit premature that the head coach is on the “hot seat”, there is no doubt that life isn’t as easy in Oxford as it once was.

The Rebels finished the season with a record of 4-8, including a 1-7 record in conference play. One of the losses came in the season opener in Oxford again FCS (formerly Division 1-AA) foe Jacksonville State in what was a nationwide stunner. A second consecutive loss to Mississippi State, this time in front of a home crowd in Oxford, finished the season off.

Having lost significant players on both sides of the football, the 2011 Ole Miss Football team is going to have to rely on a stellar recruiting class to step in and make a significant impact early if the season is going to prove to be a successful one.

Offense
The Quarterbacks
Gone is Oregon transfer and former Heisman Trophy candidate Jeremiah Masoli, and the position is up for grabs. The Rebels appear to boast several capable bodies but there is only a handful of Division 1 experience between them.

Nathan Stanley, poised to be the starting quarterback last season prior to Masoli joining the team, has transferred out, leaving the quarterback position to be decided between:
Randall Mackey, a former Parade All-American recruit in High School and Junior College All-American at East Mississippi Community College;

Barry Brunetti, a four-star recruit out of Memphis University School who, in his senior season led the Owls to a perfect season including a shocking win in Batesville over South Panola. Brunetti signed with West Virginia and saw limited playing time with the Mountaineers as a backup before transferring to Ole Miss to be closer to home. He was granted a hardship waiver for immediate eligibility.

Zack Stoudt, a signee out of Iowa Western Community College, who began his college career at Louisville, before transferring to IWCC.

The favorites in this competition are Mackey and Brunetti, as each possesses the ability to extend plays and the mobility to evade pressure. Stoudt, meanwhile, is a traditional drop back passer.

The Running Backs
Ole Miss dodged a bullet when Running Back Brandon Bolden chose to return to school for his senior season, rather than test the waters of the NFL Draft. Bolden is a versatile playmaker for the Rebels, as he poses a threat to defense both carrying the ball as well as catching passes out of the backfield. Bolden is also a capable blocker. Bolden finished 2010 with 976 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns, as well as 344 receiving yards and 3 receiving touchdowns. Bolden was the team’s leading receiver with 32 catches.

Ole Miss also returns senior Enrique Davis, a powerful downhill type of runner who has not filled the expectations fans had when the Rebels signed him out of Hargrave Military Academy. Davis had 337 rushing yards and three touchdowns in 2010.

The wild card in the backfield is sophomore Jeff Scott. Scott burst onto the scene as a true freshman with 429 rushing yards and three scores, including an 83-yard romp against eventual national champion Auburn. Possessing the type of speed and agility that made former Rebel Dexter McCluster a fan favorite, Scott has Oxford buzzing and could be in line for a breakout season.

The Receivers
The Rebels lost their top receiver from 2010 in Markeith Summers but return junior Melvin Harris and redshirt sophomore Ja-Mes Logan.

Harris, a giant target at 6-foot-7 and possessing dangerous speed for his size, began to emerge as a deep threat for the Rebels last season, but has been plagued by inconsistency both on and off the field. Harris
finished with 408 yards on 30 catches with three touchdowns.

Logan emerged as a reliable target during the second half of the season and could play the possession receiver type of role the Rebels have been searching for since Shay Hodge graduated. Logan finished with 387 yards on 29 catches with two touchdowns.

The wide receiver position is one in which new faces will be particularly prevalent. The Rebels signed a star-studded group of freshmen at the position, and former dandy dozen Vincent Sanders will look to contribute following a redshirt.

Freshman Nick Brassell is expected to contribute on both sides of the ball.

Nick Brassell, the former South Panola star, has been turning heads since arriving on campus, and looks like one who will factor in on both sides of the football for the Rebels, lining up both at wide receiver and cornerback. Brassell possesses game-breaking speed, making him an offensive threat, and the potential to be a shutdown corner in time.


The Rebels also signed two other talented Mississippi prospects in Madison Central Tobias Singleton and Raleigh’s Donte Moncrief. Singleton has elite straight line speed and could develop into a downfield threat while Moncrief is a physically imposing target at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds with above average speed and very good hands.

The Rebels also boast experience at the tight end position as Ferbia Allen enters his senior season, his third season as a starter. The Rebels also signed Jamal Mosley out of Northwest MS Community College. Mosley played for the Rangers last season after signing with Oklahoma State out of High School. Mosley saw action at Oklahoma State as a freshman.

The Offensive Line
The success of the Ole Miss offense is going to rely largely on a big, experienced Offensive Line, which will have to created holes for the Rebels’ talented runners and provide protection in the pocket for what will be an inexperienced quarterback.

The Rebels appear to be in good hands with the return of senior Bradley Sowell at Left Tackle. The 6-foot-7, 315 pound Hernando product will be a third-year starter, having taken over for the Baltimore Ravens’ Michael Oher following the 2008 season. With a strong senior year, Sowell will have made an excellent case for himself in the eyes of NFL scouts.

The Right Tackle position returns junior Bobby Massie. A heavily recruited prospect out of Hargrave Military Academy, the 6-foot-6, 325 pound, Massie will also receive a look from NFL scouts if the 2011 season is a success.

Junior Center A.J. Hawkins returns for the Rebels as well at 6-foot-3, 313 pounds. Hawkins has played in 21 career games over two years.

A camp battle is underway to determine who will line up between Sowell and Hawkins at Left Guard. The two leading candidates for the Rebels are sophomore Patrick Junen (6-foot-6, 311) and Alex “Tank” Washington, a 6-foot-4, 356 pound senior. Junen appears to be the favorite early in camp.

At Right Tackle the Rebels boast their largest starter in junior Matt Hall at 6-foot-9 and 340 pounds. Hall sat out the 2010 season after transferring to Ole Miss from the University of Arkansas, where he played in 11 games in 2009, including the Liberty Bowl.

Defense
The Defensive Line
Perhaps the biggest question mark on the entire defense, and definitely the area where the most losses occurred, is defensive tackle.

At Defensive Tackle, the Rebels lost Jerrell Powe to the NFL Draft, where he was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round, and Ted Laurent, Lawon Scott and Lamark Armour due to graduation. The only returning player at the position with game experience is senior Justin Smith.

The Rebels do have some talented prospects hoping to make an impact at the position in Byron Bennett and Carlton Martin, the former Dandy Dozen duo from Madison Central sat out with redshirts during 2010.
The Rebels also looked to ease the void by signing a pair of Junior College Defensive Tackles in Uriah Grant and Gilbert Pena. Grant is reportedly one of the top-three strongest players on the team at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds. Pena is 6-foot-2, 336 pounds.

At Defensive End, Ole Miss caught a break with the return of Senior Kentrell Lockett, who was granted a sixth year of eligibility due to medical hardship after suffering a season-ending ACL tear against Fresno State. If Lockett returns to pre-injury form, the Rebels will have one of the conference’s finest pass rush specialists.

Also returning is senior Wayne Dorsey, the 6-foot-6, 262 pounder will be counted on to fulfill his potential coming out of Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. Dorsey played in 12 games for the Rebels totaling only 12 tackles, but 4.0 tackles for a loss.

The Rebels return the majority of their depth from last season at the position as well in Gerald Rivers, Cameron Whigham, Jason Jones, and Carlos Thompson, who many hope will have a breakout sophomore campaign as he was very highly regarded coming out of high school.

The Linebackers
While the position looked like the strength of the defense heading into spring practice, it took a terrible blow when junior D.T. Shackelford was lost with an ACL tear. The undisputed leader of the defense, Shackelford accepted the 2011 Chucky Mullins Courage Award while on crutches.

The Rebels return junior Joel Kight, who has played in every game thus far in his career as a Rebel. Kight, who has 53 career tackles, is the elder statesman of the unit.

Sophomore Mike Marry returns as well, having played in ten games as a freshman.
Ole Miss will rely on newcomers at the position, especially C.J. Johnson. The Mississippi State commit turned Ole Miss signee is expected to factor in big to the playing rotation at Middle Linebacker. Johnson was considered the number two Inside Linebacker recruit in the nation by Rivals.com. Freshmen Ralph Williams, Keith Lewis and Serderius Bryant are expected to figure into the equation as well.

The Secondary
Both starting cornerbacks return for the Rebels in sophomore Charles Sawyer and senior Marcus Temple.
Sawyer finished his freshman season with 49 tackles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Big things are expected for Sawyer in his career.Temple finished 2010 with 48 tackles and two tackles for a loss with two fumble recoveries.

The Rebels signed former Dandy Dozen Senquez Golson out of Pascagoula. Golson, who turned down big money from the Boston Red Sox as an eighth round pick in the MLB Draft, is expected to compete for early playing time at cornerback as well.

At Safety starter Damien Jackson returns for his senior season. Jackson finished 2010 second on the team with 68 tackles as well as one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Sophomore Brishen Mathews looks to build on a freshman season in which he played in all twelve games.
The Rebels also signed three junior college prospects in Co-Lin CC’s Wesley Pendleton, Ivan Nicholas out of ASA College in Brooklyn, NY, and Aaron Garbutt out of Fullerton CC in California, to aid in the secondary.

Special Teams
Kickoff specialist Andrew Ritter returns for his junior season. Ritter finished 2010 with 13 touchbacks, but also 4 kickoffs out of bounds.

Junior Bryson Rose returns and is expected to retain field goal and PAT duties. Rose was 16-18 on field goals with a long of 41 in 2010.

Junior Tyler Campbell returns after becoming the 2010 NCAA punting champion with an average of 46.37 yards per punt. Campbell had 19 punts of 50-plus yards with a long punt of 69 yards and 13 downed inside the 20. Campbell was named a third team All American by The Sporting News.

Return specialist Jesse Grandy transferred during the offseason to the University of Central Arkansas, leaving the positions open for grabs and with no shortage of suitors.

Potential replacements for Grandy are the following: wide receivers Philander Moore, Nick Brassell, Tobias Singleton, Korvic Neat, Collins Moore and Derrick Herman, running back Jeff Scott, and cornerback Senquez Golson.