Ole Miss will legitimately have the best quarterback in the SEC as Chad Kelly returns for his senior season. Despite some ups and downs, Kelly still put up huge numbers in his first year as a starter in 2015. He threw for 4,042 yards and 31 passing touchdowns (both tops in the conference), and added 10 rushing touchdowns. Kelly is a +2,000 contender to win the Heisman this season.
He lost Laquon Treadwell and Cody Core (his top two receivers last season) to the NFL, but there’s still a lot of depth at receiver led by Damore’ea Stringfellow. The Washington transfer had 36 catches for 503 yards and 5 TDs in his first season at Ole Miss.
The Rebels defense wasn’t quite as good as many expected last season. From 16 points allowed per game in 2014, they jumped up to 22.6 in 2015. But even with the loss of Robert Nkemdiche, there’s still a lot of NFL-caliber talent up front. Marquis Haynes, who tied a team record with 10 sacks, will be a handful on the edge, while Fadol Brown can be equally disruptive on the opposite side.
Meanwhile, junior DeMarquis Gates – the team’s top tackler last season with 76 – will lead a linebacking corps that will also feature incoming transfers Rommel Mageo and Detric Bing-Dukes.
Team Weaknesses
The offensive line is by far the team’s big question mark heading into this season. The Rebels will have to bed in four new starters, headlined by true freshman Greg Little. Little will undergo a baptism by fire as he steps in to replace Laremy Tunsil at left tackle. Three of Ole Miss’ first four opponents are Florida State, Alabama and Georgia. Yikes.
That revamped O-line also won’t do any favors to a running game that was unable to supply the balance the offense desperately needed. The Rebels were a middling seventh in the SEC in rushing last season, averaging just 183 yards per game.
But if the line comes together, Kelly has enough talent and enough weapons to lead the Rebels to a potential playoff spot. Ole Miss is priced at +800 to win the SEC, and +2,500 to claim the national championship.
2015 Stats
Category
Stat (Rank)
Points per game
40.8 (#8)
Passing yards per game
334.7 (#10)
Rushing yards per game
183.08 (#45)
Scoring defense
22.6 (#32)
Writer’s Prediction
Ole Miss doesn’t quite unseat Alabama in the SEC West, but it does go over 8.0 regular season wins with a 9-3 mark.
