These under-the-radar players could help Ole Miss push for the College Football Playoff

OXFORD — Ole Miss football fans have witnessed Jaxson Dart’s excellence at quarterback. They’ve heard about what top-tier transfers like Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen can do on the defensive line. They’ve marveled at Tre Harris’ feats at wide receiver.

These ‒ among several others ‒ are the stars fueling the hype for the Rebels in 2024.

But winning at the level Ole Miss hopes to next season will require more than just star power.

Here are five under-the-radar names who could help the Rebels achieve their goals.

WR Deion Smith

Smith is a summer arrival, so the combination of his absence from spring practice and the fact that he’ll come to play in a loaded Ole Miss wide receiver room seems to have made him an afterthought to some. But Smith, a junior college addition, brings elite athleticism and a knowledge of what the standards in the SEC are like. He made an impact at LSU as a true freshman in 2021 before moving to Holmes Community College. With Harris, Juice Wells and Jordan Watkins in the picture at receiver for the Rebels, Smith has a mountain in front of him when it comes to earning playing time. Don’t be surprised if he climbs it.

OL Jeremy James

The 2023 season wasn’t James’ best, and it wasn’t a good one for the Rebels’ offensive line in general. Especially against top-quality opposition, Ole Miss struggled at the point of attack. With four linemen added to the fold via the transfer portal, position coach John Garrison has some sorting out to do. A veteran like James is valuable in that type of situation. And James showed earlier in his career that he can grade out well individually. On what the Rebels hope will be a more functional offensive line, perhaps James can get back to his best.

LB TJ Dudley

Dudley transferred from Clemson last offseason, but NCAA rules forced him to sit out until the Peach…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/under-radar-players-could-help-100455271.html

Author : The Clarion Ledger

Publish date : 2024-05-20 10:04:55

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