There aren't a lot of surprises on the freshly released Ole Miss depth chart. With the Rebels returning as many starters as they do, surprises would be...a surprise.
But a few things about the depth chart did strike me:
1. Cody Core is listed as the starter in the slot over Quincy Adeboyejo. Last year Core, a 6-foot-3 junior, was a man looking for a position, spending some time at safety before gravitating back to receiver and catching a 50-yard touchdown in the Troy game. Now he's listed as a starter. Adeboyejo will get his share of reps, but kudos to Core for getting the starting nod.
2. Derrick Jones is listed as a 3rd team corner behind Mike Hilton and Cliff Coleman. With the memory of Jones shutting down LSU's pair of future NFL receivers last year still fresh in my mind, it says a lot about how deep Ole Miss is at corner that Jones has two players ahead of him on the depth chart.
3. Channing Ward is listed as a 2nd team defensive end behind Fadol Brown. Considering that Ward was moved to tight end in the spring that 2nd team spot could mean that Ward made a nice comeback at his original position this fall. Maybe Ward will get some reps this year. He's still a guy I look at and think, "one day he'll do it." Maybe that one day will be this year.
4. Ole Miss has experienced options at nose tackle. Woodrow Hamilton, Bryon Bennett and Issac Gross will share duty at the center of the defensive line. Those three guys have a lot of playing time under their belts, and defensive coordinator Dave Wommack will be able to rotate them in and out at will. Should be a good thing in the 4th quarter.
5. Ole Miss is so deep at wide receiver and defensive end that two of the Rebels' more celebrated recruits from last February, Breeland Speaks and Markell Pack, aren't even on the depth chart. Rod Taylor is a 2nd team guard. A year ago that would not have happened. The Rebels have some depth now, and that's a good thing.
6. Jeremy Liggins is a 3rd string tight end. For as much as Liggins has been talked about since last spring, we may not see much of him on the field this year. He has a redshirt year available. I wonder if it'll get used?
7. Anthony Alford is listed as the punt returner. He is also the primary candidate to run the Rebels in the wildcat formation. I can't wait to see that guy with the ball in his hands.
8. At 280 pounds, Fadol Brown is a HUGE defensive end. To put it in perspective, keep in mind that C.J. Johson is 225 pounds. Marquis Haynes is 220 pounds. They're the speed guys. Brown is the strong guy. At 280, Brown's heft should be difficult for a tackle to move.
9. Lavon Hooks is backing up Robert Nkemdiche at tackle. That means the nation's former best junior college tackle is backing up the nation's former top recruit. There's a lot of talent in that tandem.
LINK to the Depth Chart
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