Georgia Opponents at a Glance: Ole Miss Rebels
We’re still a ways away from the start of Georgia’s football season this fall, but it’s never too early to start looking ahead at the Bulldogs’ opponents. Expected to enter the season at No. 1 in the nation, Kirby Smart’s squad takes on a tough schedule in 2024. UGA opens with Clemson in Atlanta and plays a beefed-up eight-game SEC slate that features Alabama, Texas and Ole Miss – three likely top-10 teams – all on the road. Add in games against Kentucky, Auburn, Mississippi State, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia Tech and the only thing holding Georgia back from having the toughest schedule in the country is the inability to play itself!
Today, we continue the DawgsHQ Opponents at a Glance series, taking a look at the offseason additions, departures and storylines of the teams Georgia plays this season. We’re entering the home stretch of Georgia’s schedule, and the home stretch of this series. With just three power conference opponents remaining to discuss, we dive in today on the Ole Miss Rebels. Georgia travels to Oxford for the first time since 2016 – Kirby Smart’s first season on the job – on November 9th.
Ole Miss Rebels
Head Coach: Lane Kiffin (5th season)Offensive Coordinator: Charlie Weis Jr. (3rd season)Defensive Coordinator: Pete Golding (2nd season)2023 Record: 11-2 (6-2 SEC, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over Penn State)Most Recent Result vs. Georgia: 52-17 UGA (2023)
NFL Draft: 3 player drafted (DB Deantre Prince – 5th Round, DL Cedric Johnson – 6th Round, DB Daijahn Anthony – 7th Round), 5 undrafted free agent (LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, DB Zamari Walton, DB DeShawn Gaddie, DL Isaac Ukwu, WR Dayton Wade)
Transfer Portal: 25 players transfer out (Notables: RB Quinshon Judkins, TE Michael Trigg, WR Zakhari Franklin, RB Kedrick Reescano), 22 players transfer in (Notables: DL Walter Nolen, EDGE Princely Umanmielan, WR Antwane Wells, RB Logan Diggs, DB Trey Amos, DB Key Lawrence, LB Chris Paul Jr., TE Dae’Quan Wright, RB Rashad Amos, OL Diego Pounds)
Recruiting Recap: No. 20 in nation for Class of 2024 – top signee: four-star DL Kam Franklin – four top-300 players (Franklin, OL William Echoles DL Kamron Beavers, DL Jeffery Rush) – 43% blue chip Recent Results: No. 20 (2023), No. 22 (2022), No. 17 (2021)
Offensive Overview
Ole Miss has taken a different approach to building its roster than many of its SEC counterparts. Relying heavier on the transfer portal than traditional high school recruiting – at least to build up its skill positions – the Rebels are ready to roll for 2024.
Jaxson Dart was among the top SEC quarterbacks last season, taking a step forward in his development by throwing for more touchdowns (23) and less interceptions (5) – completing 233 of his 358 passes for 3,364 yards. He held off incoming competition from Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard this time last year and gaining confidence from his teammates.
Ole Miss’ weapons around him will look pretty different. The team’s leading rusher of the last two seasons Quinshon Judkins transferred to Ohio State. Dayton Wade, who caught the most passes for the Rebels in 2023, is in the NFL. Still, Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and Caden Prieskorn return, and Lane Kiffin has reloaded the Rebels with South Carolina star receiver Juice Wells. Ulysses Bentley is the SEC’s highest graded returning running back, and pressure will be on him to pick up some slack. Up front, three starters return including one each at offensive tackle (Micah Pettus), guard (Jeremy James) and center (Caleb Warren).
Defensive Overview
On the defensive side of the ball, there’s questions that must be answered. Ole Miss tried to do so in the transfer portal adding the likes of Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielan up front. The Rebels ranked tenth in the SEC giving up 382.2 yards per game, and it’s their hope the help at the line of scrimmage can rectify the issue somewhat, taking some pressure off of the offense.
Outside of those two, it’s the likes of Jared Ivey, JJ Pegues and Zxavian Harris to look out for. Ivey earned Peach Bowl MVP honors with five tackles including two more loss. He finished first on the team overall wiht 11.5 tackles for loss, just ahead of Pegues (8.0).
Linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk is out, but talented sophomore Suntarine Perkins, a former five-star, is expected to be among the country’s top breakout candidates. Khari Coleman was also a starter last season and has his fair share of experience, ranking sixth on the team in tackles owning 90 in two seasons including 13.5 for loss, 7.0 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Ole Miss ranked first in the SEC in turnover margin in 2023 at +11 thanks in large part due to 13 picked off passes, most by an Ole Miss defense since 2015. All-SEC safeties Trey Washington and John Sanders Jr. are both back after finishing first and third on the team in tackles, picking off three passes a piece. Elsewhere in the secondary, you can look to the transfer portal while trying to figure out who will be on the field with players coming in from the likes of Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Michigan.
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