2014 Ole Miss Football Position Preview: Tight End

The 2014 Ole Miss football season is just around the corner. Here at Ole Hotty Toddy, we want to bring you the most coverage you can find to get you prepared for the upcoming season. In this article series, we are going to take an in depth look at each position for the Ole Miss Rebels. We are going to cover what happened with each position in 2013, the impact players of each position, and the future of each position. Hope you enjoy!

Now that we have taken a look at the offensive line positions we take a look at those guys who can be a blocker or a receiver, the tight ends. This is a position on offense that Ole Miss has struggled for years to find the right talent.

Now, the tight end position seems to be taking shape for the Rebels. A talented sophomore, freshmen recruits rolling into the program, and a former defensive end for the Rebels have brought depth for the tight end position that the Rebels need.

In 2013…

Last season, Rebel Nation was introduced to true freshman Evan Engram, a little known talented tight end before the start of the season. Engram was apart of the highly talented 2013 Ole Miss recruiting class. He was listed as a 3-star recruit and was ranked as high as the 22nd tight end in the nation.

By the end of the 2013 season, Engram was ranked as the no. 3 tight end in the SEC by ESPN. He finished the season with 21 receptions for a total of 268 yards. Engram also recorded three touchdowns in his freshmen season.

During the Offseason…

The one thing about Engram is that at 6-3, 217 pounds, he is built more for a wide receiver stature. Engram was basically used as another receiver throughout the 2013 season. During the game against LSU, Engram suffered a fractured foot and was out through the remaining regular season games. This was a major impact to the Rebel offense. Engram did not return to action until the Music City Bowl game against Georgia Tech, but saw very little action in the game.

During spring practices, it seems Engram has picked up right where he left off at the beginning of last season. He performed exceptionally well in the 2014 Grove Bowl.

Even though Channing Ward finished seventh in the SEC with two forced fumbles and 21 tackles as defensive end last season, Coach Hugh Freeze has found a more suitable role for Ward on offense. Ward has been filling in the tight end role during the spring. It is a move that could be a pure genius move by Freeze. Ward can step as a sufficient blocker on the line and it has been noted he can catch good enough down field that you have to cover him.

In 2014…

Expect Evan Engram to pick up right where he left off last season. If the talented sophomore can stay healthy, it is scary to think what he can accomplish this season. Channing Ward should fill in the role (likely at backup) when Freeze needs him. Next to possibly seeing Jeremy Liggins play a few QB snaps, seeing Ward step in at tight end is something I’m excited to watch in the 2014 season.

The Future…

Evan Engram should have at least a few more years at Ole Miss. I would not be surprised to see Engram get moved to a wide receiver in the coming years. There is enough talented recruits coming in behind him to support this theory.

Sammie Epps will be coming to the team in the fall. I think it will be a coin flip on a possible redshirt. If Freeze chooses to play him his freshman year, Epps could easily fill in as backup to Engram this season. Epps impressed everyone that much in last year’s Mississippi All-Star Game. So much, that Epps at one point lend away from his commitment to Ole Miss and explored other sudden offers like LSU and Alabama. Epps recommitted his decision to go to Ole Miss.

Willie Hibbler is a 2015 4-star tight end out of North Panola. We have learned recently that Hibbler has been dropped from the high school team. However, this has shown no affect to his commitment to Ole Miss. Hibbler is currently the highest rated recruit for the Rebels in 2015 and would be a big asset to the tight end position.

Home/Ole Miss Football