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| C.J. Johnson gets a sack. Pic By Joshua McCoy |
Yesterday, I started a series on top Ole Miss performers from 2012, starting with Bo Wallace, Donte Moncrief and Jeff Scott. I couldn't move on to the defense before mentioning Vince Sanders.
Vince Sanders: At the beginning of the season Wallace was zeroed in on Moncrief, but as defenses began to key on the star receiver Wallace found Sanders more and more. As the season progressed Sanders became a favorite target of Wallace's and he made some big time catches at some crucial times. Sanders finished with 34 receptions for 465 yards and three touchdowns. Sanders developed into a good receiver this season. Next year he has the potential to be great.
Top Performers on Defense
While the pass defense did struggle, on the whole the Rebels were a much-improved unit this season. Ole Miss finished 7th in the SEC in total defense, allowing 385 yards per game. Credit goes to defensive coordinator Dave Wommack for his schemes and in-game adjustments, and to Hugh Freeze for inspiring his team to leave it all on the field. Credit also goes to these young top performers, who will be a vital part of this defense for years to come:
Denzel Nkemdiche: In preseason practice Wommack told me Nkemdiche impressed him at linebacker, despite his smallish frame, because he's all over the field. He said Nkemdiche plays like a Tasmanian Devil. I heard Freeze repeat the same description of Nkemdiche after the season opener. Now he's Tasmanian Denzel and it's a worthy nickname. Nkemdiche is the first player to the ball more often than not. The redshirt freshman led the team in tackles (78) and tackles for loss and became an emotional leader in the locker room and on the field. The future looks bright for Nkemdiche.
Issac Gross: It's hard to believe a 250-pound true freshman can make an impact at defensive tackle in the SEC, but that's exactly what Gross did this season. Some SEC teams have linebackers bigger than Gross, but he made believers out of many an offensive lineman assigned to blocking him this season. Gross will get bigger and better. Gross had nine tackles for loss this year, second only to Nkemdiche. Be afraid SEC.
C.J. Johnson: Johnson led Ole Miss with 6.5 sacks this season, but for every sack he had there were countless other times he was inflicting immense pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Johnson is only a sophomore. He came to Ole Miss a linebacker, but appears to have found his home at defensive end. He has the necessary speed to get to the quarterback, and it will happen more and more over the next two seasons.
Cody Prewitt: Number 25 was usually anywhere you saw the football. He finished 2nd on the team in tackles (75) and was a quiet enforcer from his safety position, delivering big licks at critical times this season. Prewitt is also just a sophomore.