What are the questions to be answered during August camp about the Ole Miss defense? Part two

As good as the Ole Miss roster looks on paper, there are still some lingering questions left over from spring training about the Rebel offense and defense that will have to be answered in August camp.

We asked a few questions yesterday about the promising Rebel defensive line. Today, in part 2, we will delve into the question about the back end of the defense – the linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks.

In spring, it was obvious – Arkansas transfer Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. sophomore T.J. Dudley , senior Khari Coleman and junior Tyler Banks were the top four in the linebacker rotation with JUCO transfer Raymond Collins trying to put a bid in for playing time.

Paul, a junior, answered the main question in a recent interview – do you know the system, the defensive plays and assignments? Yes, he said, because his responsibilities in DC Pete Golding’s defense were very similar to what he was used to with the Hogs.

Beyond that, the questions were if Banks was ready to take on a role similar to Ashanti Cistrunk, a valuable backup for a large chunk of his career, and who will start between Coleman and Dudley?

The answers to those two queries would be wait-and-see and, based on spring, Dudley will be number one with Coleman also getting meaningful reps. (Paul was number one ahead of Banks in spring, by the way.)

At safety, two slots are solid with seniors Trey Washington and John Saunders, Jr. , but what of their backups and the main man at the other safety position?

Ole Miss brought in veterans Key Lawrence , Yam Banks and Louis Moore , all seniors, and in spring it looked as if Larence was the one who caught on the quickest. Like Paul, he said he had played in a similar system at Oklahoma, so the assignments were not difficult to pick up.

Junior J adon Canady also threw his hat in the ring for extensive playing time during spring camp. After struggling with injuries most of last season, he’s healthy now and ready to contribute.

The Rebel coaches signed a trio of safeties in the 2024 class, but those rookies are going to need seasoning. The six listed above look to be the most prominent for the safety positions.

The two cornerback slots seem to be up for grabs even though Alabama transfer Trey Amos seems to have nosed out the other candidates to take over for graduated Deantre Prince.

How will the corner rotation work out in August?

The main candidates are Amos, sophomore Chris Graves, Tennessee transfer Bradon Turnage, Houston transfer Isaiah Hamilton, JUCO Cedrick Beavers , junior Richard O’Bryan t, sophomore A.J. Brown and true freshman Travaris Banks , who made a very good impression in spring starting out as a safety and ending up a corner.

The educated guess here is Amos, Graves, Turnage and Hamilton will get the bulk of the reps, but don’t be surprised to see Banks climb the depth chart quickly.

The biggest question, however, is whether or not the defense will be championship caliber, like we expect the offense to be?

With the addition of Walter Nolen inside, Princely Umanmielen at rush end, Paul at LB, Amos and Hamilton at corner, and Lawrence, Banks and Moore at safety, to go along with players like Pegues, Ivey, Perkins, Coleman, Z. Harris, Saunders, Washington and Graves, et al, the answer is unknown, but the outlook on defense is as good as Ole Miss has seen in quite a few years due to added star power and depth.

Stay tuned. . . .

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