Spring practice has concluded in the world of college football, and so begins the annual “talking season” in preparation for the 2024 campaign.
247Sports recently released some “overreactions” to five “polarizing” programs as the calendar prepares to turn to May, and the Ole Miss Rebels were on the list. Overreactions can produce some negative headlines for programs in college football, but in Ole Miss’ case, the returns were overwhelmingly positive.
“The Rebels are contending if Jaxson Dart is the all-league caliber quarterback whom most expect him to be, the defense improves and there’s a difference-maker in the backfield to make up for the loss of Quinshon Judkins to Ohio State. The stock price on Ole Miss is higher than usual this offseason, but is only going to skyrocket from here.”
1. **Jaxson Dart’s Performance**: The success of the Rebels seems to hinge significantly on the performance of Jaxson Dart, presumably their quarterback. If Dart can live up to the expectations of being an “all-league caliber quarterback,” it would bode well for the team’s success. This implies that Dart is seen as a pivotal player for the team.
2. **Improved Defense**: The statement also emphasizes the importance of the defense improving. A strong defense is crucial for any football team, as it can prevent opposing teams from scoring and give their own offense more opportunities to succeed. So, the Rebels’ defensive performance is seen as a key factor in their potential success.
3. **Replacing Quinshon Judkins**: The loss of Quinshon Judkins, presumably a significant player for the team, to Ohio State is noted. To compensate for this loss, the Rebels need a “difference-maker” in the backfield. This suggests that there’s a gap in the team’s lineup that needs to be filled by a player who can have a significant impact on the game.
4. **Optimism for Ole Miss**: Despite these challenges, there’s a sense of optimism surrounding Ole Miss. The “stock price” metaphor suggests that expectations for the team are higher than usual during this offseason. This could be due to various factors such as talented recruits, returning players, or changes in coaching staff.
5. **Potential for Growth**: The statement concludes by suggesting that while expectations are high now, they have the potential to rise even further. This implies that if the aforementioned factors align positively for the Rebels, their prospects for success will only improve as the season progresses.
Overall, this statement reflects a positive outlook for the Ole Miss Rebels’ upcoming football season, highlighting key areas of focus and potential challenges that need to be addressed for the team to succeed.
In a microcosm, this is what makes Ole Miss’ situation so interesting entering the 2024 campaign. The Rebels return a ton of key talent from an 11-win roster a season ago (like quarterback Jaxson Dart), but they have revamped their defense and added a few other key playmakers via the transfer portal.
Ole Miss has attempted to replicate Judkins’ production in the aggregate this offseason, returning presumed starting running back Ulysses Bentley IV while adding Henry Parrish Jr. (Miami) and Jacory Croskey-Merritt (New Mexico) from the transfer market.
Some of the most impressive improvements, however, have come on defense. The Rebels’ front seven has drawn attention this spring thanks to the additions of DL Walter Nolen and EDGE Princely Umanmielen, and the secondary is also set to feature some new faces, including cornerback Trey Amos from Alabama.
There will be plenty of speculation in the coming months as to who are the contenders and pretenders in 2024, but the current consensus is that Ole Miss is in the former of the two categories. The Rebels will open their season at home on Aug. 31 against the Furman Paladins.
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