Ole Miss Rebels
2014 Record: 9-4 overall, 5-3 SEC (lost to TCU in Chick-fil-A Bowl)
1 Burning Question: Is Ole Miss ready to put it all together?
2014 was shaping up to be a very special season for Ole Miss and Hugh Freeze. The Rebels started 7-0 including a huge win over Alabama. The SEC was theirs for the taking but they slipped up on the road against LSU and then the following week in Oxford against Auburn. Two losses by a total of seven points turned their season sideways. Down the stretch the Rebels got blitzed by Arkansas and TCU to finish with four losses.
Despite finishing 2-4 in their last six games, the Rebels still continued their overall trend of improvement. In Freeze’s debut season, the Rebels posted a 7-6 record. In 2013, they improved to 8-5. In 2014, the Rebels went 9-4.
The defense was on point in 2014 for the Rebels, as they finished first in the league in scoring defense. The offense wasn’t bad in 2014, but it was inconsistent. Since Hugh Freeze has arrived on campus his quarterback, for better and for worse, has been Bo Wallace. Now Freeze will turn the reins over to former Clemson QB Chad Kelly, who could be the reason the Rebels succeed or fail in 2015. That’s a lot of pressure for a player who is in his first year with the team. The good news for Kelly is that he has a star-studded supporting cast.
2 Key Stats to Pay Attention to
32 — This is the number of turnovers gained by the Rebels’ “Landshark” defense in 2014. Can the Rebels sustain this in 2015? Meanwhile, can the offense hold onto the ball better than last year (25 turnovers) and take better advantage of what the defense allows?
70.73% — This is the Rebels’ red zone scoring percentage last season. Ole Miss was the worst in the conference at converting red zone opportunities.
3 Key Games That Will Make or Break the Season
Full 2015 Schedule
9/5 — UT Martin
9/12 — Fresno State
9/19 — at Alabama
9/26 — Vanderbilt
10/3 — at Florida
10/10 — vs New Mexico State
10/17 — at Memphis
10/24– Texas A&M
10/31 — at Auburn
11/7 — vs Arkansas
11/14 — Open Date
11/21 — vs LSU
11/28 — at Mississippi State
Saturday, September 19, at Alabama
Record in the Last 5 Meetings: 1-4
Last Year’s Result: W, 23-17
Why it matters: The victory by Ole Miss over Alabama last year was a landmark win for Hugh Freeze. Following it up with a win in Bryant-Denny would be a huge statement.
Saturday, October 31, at Auburn
Record in Last 5 Meetings: 1-4
Last Year’s Result: L, 31-35
Why it matters: Not only does Ole Miss have to play Alabama on the road, but the Rebels also have to play at Auburn. The Tigers have won five of the last six in this series. If Ole Miss wants to be taken seriously, it has to beat the teams from Alabama (or at least one of them).
Saturday, November 17 vs Arkansas
Record in Last 5 Meetings: 2-3
Last Year’s Result: L, 0-30
Why it matters: Arkansas took Ole Miss to the woodshed in 2014. This game is about pride, and Ole Miss needs to get revenge for last year’s embarrassing loss.
4 Key Players
Robert Nkemdiche, DT – What Nkemdiche brings to Ole Miss doesn’t show up in the box score, but he could be the best defensive player in the nation, and he’s the anchor of the Landshark defense.
Denzel Nkemdiche, LB – Most teams recruited Denzel so they could get a shot at landing his brother Robert, but the Rebels really found a gem with Denzel. He plays the game with speed and tenacity; staying healthy is a big key to the Ole Miss season.
Laremy Tunsil, OL – Ole Miss’s offensive line wasn’t particularly good in 2014, but Tunsil is on another level. Some offseason issues have dogged Tunsil, but my guess is that he will be ready to go when the season starts. Tunsil is the best offensive lineman in the country, and it’s time for Ole Miss to build a formidable line around him.
Laquan Treadwell, WR – All eyes are on Chad Kelly, but for him to have a good season, Treadwell will need to bounce back from his injury and return to form. Treadwell is a special talent, and the Rebels are a different offensive team with him on the field.
5 Bold Predictions
5. Laremy Tunsil will be the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Earlier this offseason I wrote about the players who would be the most likely top draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. I had two Rebels in that group, but I think a talent like Tunsil doesn’t come around often and someone will grab him with the top pick.
4. Ole Miss will beat every SEC team it lost to in 2014.
Ole Miss fell to LSU, Auburn and Arkansas in 2014. In 2015, the Rebels will beat all three of those teams. This leaves the big question: How will they do against the rest of the SEC West and Tennessee?
3. Ole Miss will lead the SEC in scoring defense for the second straight season.
The Rebels do have some key defensive players to replace, but their front seven is dynamic. It will once again be a big reason why Ole Miss will continue to improve under Hugh Freeze.
2. Laquon Treadwell will lead the SEC in receptions.
In 2013, Treadwell was third in the league in receptions behind only Jarvis Landry and Jordan Matthews. Last year an injury and a guy named Amari Cooper stood between him and the top of the leaderboard. The Rebels will go to Treadwell early and often in 2015, and he will pay dividends for Ole Miss, becoming the best receiver in the league.
1. Ole Miss will win ten games in 2015.
Ole Miss has to play at Alabama and Auburn, and the team plays the Egg Bowl at Mississippi State. However, for a SEC West schedule, the Rebels have a very workable one. As he’s done in each year he’s been in Oxford, Freeze will post a better record than he did the previous year.
