2008 Ole Miss Rebels NCAA Football Predictions
June 8, 2008
Ole Miss went winless in their SEC schedule last season so it can’t get any worse heading into 2008. A win at Memphis was the only bright spot for the Rebels last year. They open with 3 out of 4 games at home this season, including Memphis, so a much better start for Ole Miss can be expected. Houston Nutt comes over after serving 10 years at Arkansas to try and bring a winning tradition to this program. Info Plays gives you their 2008 Mississippi Rebels NCAA football predictions and a team preview below.
Offense:
QB Jevan Snead has found his starting job this season under Houston Nutt. Snead spent one season at Texas, losing out to Colt McCoy before transferring to Ole Miss. Of Snead, “He can really make some big-time throws,” Nutt said. The biggest question for this offense will be at running back. Junior Cordera Eason will get the first crack at tailback, but incoming freshman Enrique Davis was one of the nation’s top prep school recruits and will be given his chance if Cordera can’t handle the load.
Snead will have a plethora of proven targets to throw to, including Mike Wallace, Shay Hodge and Dexter McCluster. Look for Nutt to try and use McCluster as he did Darren McFadden at Arkansas by giving Dexter some direct snaps to make the most out of his athleticism. Wallace caught 38 passes for 716 yards and six touchdowns last season. Hodge caught a team-high 43 for 593 yards and six scores as well. The offensive line brings back four starters from last season, including NFL prospect at tackle in Michael Oher.
Defense:
The Rebels defense returns 8 starters from last year’s group that finished next-to-last in the SEC in scoring defense. Senior tackle Peria Jerry had 58 tackles last season, which included 14 for a loss and 3.5 sacks. He heads a very strong defensive line that includes junior end Greg Hardy, who had a team-high 10 sacks last season.
Questions still lurk around this defense once you get past the defensive line. Senior starting linebackers Ashlee Palmer and Tony Fein return, but coaches will be looking to sophomore Allen Walker and junior college All-American Patrick Trahan to make a quick impact. Senior safety Jamarca Sanford will be asked to help a secondary that is struggling to find depth. Sophomore Johnny Brown is tagged at the other safety, while Senior Dustin Mouzon and former receiver Marshay Green came out of the spring as the starting corners.
Mississippi Rebels predictions at Info Plays: 5th in SEC West
Ole Miss will finish 5th in the SEC West standings when it’s all said and done, just ahead of Nutt’s former Arkansas team. It looks like it was the right move for Nutt, but there will be no complete turnaround in just one season. Expectations have been raised thanks to Nutt and quarterback Snead. Eight returning starters on defense also brings some hope to Rebel country. But it would be too much of a monumental climb to think this team can make their first bowl game since 2003.
