Ole Miss Secondary: Trio of Returning Starters Must Lead in 2016

Following the 2014 season the Ole Miss secondary was forced to deal with the loss of veterans Cody Prewitt and Senquez Golson. Now with the 2015 season in the rear view, the Rebels are again re-shaping its secondary after losing stalwarts Trae Elston and Mike Hilton. The physicality and leadership Prewitt provided was hard to move on without and the task will be equally as difficult replacing those same qualities now that Elston departs.

Hilton’s loss could be even more challenging to deal with because of his versatility, spending time at each spot in the defensive backfield during his days as a Landshark excelling at each. On many occasions, Ole Miss defensive coordinator Dave Wommack and even head coach Hugh Freeze referred to Hilton as their best defensive player.

That says a lot about the undersized defender when you consider the amount of talent the Rebels had on the defensive side of the ball during his career.

The Rebels must move forward with the talent they have coming back and also the new faces entering the program. At the corner spots, the Rebels return both starters in senior Tony Bridges and junior Kendarius Webster. Bridges, a community college transfer, by way of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, felt the growing pains most transfers into the SEC do early in the season, but found his stride as the year progressed.

He made one of the plays of the Egg Bowl when he was able to intercept Dak Prescott and take it 45 yards to the end zone. Webster is a big-bodied, physical corner who can handle the bigger, most physical wideout, while also being able to stay with just about any receiver on the edge step-for-step. Though just a junior, he brings a lot of experience to the table in the form of 14 career starts and having played in all 26 games during his two seasons at Ole Miss.

The corner spot is a rather deep group, as well, with seniors Kailo Moore and Carlos Davis expected to be the main reserves. Moore, once a 4-star celebrated running back recruit, has progressed well as a corner and entering his final campaign in Oxford. Special teams is where Davis has made the biggest impact thus far in his career, but an impressive showing early this spring has created excitement for what he can offer to the secondary this fall.

Youngsters Jalen Julius and Cam Ordway offer up excitement for the future of the position. Julius figures to follow Davis’s footsteps and contribute on special teams as well as his corner spot. Ordway has shown flashes of what he can be last season. He is long and lanky and can really blanket a receiver, as well as, hold his own against bigger wideouts in the red zone.

The safety and husky spots, unlike corner, do not return a wealth of experience. Now that Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche are moving on, Tony Conner is likely the most talented player returning on the team. Conner is currently being held out this spring rehabbing a knee injury, allowing younger guys to get their chance.

The group of defensive backs going through spring are talented and extremely athletic, but the learning curve is obvious. Nothing can be assumed, but with Conner manning the husky spot next fall the Rebel secondary should be more than serviceable and rather deep. Let’s take a look at what’s available.

CJ Hampton is unquestionably the player who will be looked at to contribute and lead the young group of safeties. Considering the youth around him, the former heralded high school recruit will be expected to step up and play to the level he was recruited to play at, as well as, make sure the development process is expedited for the players around him.

Entering his third year in the program, the experience is there for Hampton to play on reaction and instinct instead of having to think so much. It should and must be a breakout year for him. His success will go a long way towards determining the success of the defense as a whole.

The Moore twins, juniors AJ and CJ, will also be heavily relied on this fall as well. Their speed sets them apart but their physicality and grasp of the scheme has come along as well and now it is their time as their reps will be increased substantially this season. This spring, AJ has found a place behind Hampton at free safety after spending time at husky in the past, while CJ is running at rover.

Also at rover is sophomore Zedrick Woods, who instead of redshirting last season played each position in the secondary at some point or another besides corner. Safeties coach Corey Batoon says that Woods is knowledgable of each spot in the defensive backfield and they are simply trying to figure out where he fits best for his own skill set, but also where he fits based on how the players shake out at other spots. His versatility is vital in filling the void left by Hilton.

Armani Linton had the benefit of redshirting last season but his impact will be needed this fall, even if only to provide depth. Linton is listed at 6-2 206 and his size will remind some of Prewitt, and in time, his game should mirror that of the former All-American. Linton possesses speed and athleticism rarely found in a player with his size and strength. He has worked at free safety this spring.

Looking back at the husky spot and how it looks this spring in Conner’s absence, the answer is, well, very young. Montrell Custis, who redshirted last fall, is joined by a pair of newcomers in Myles Hartsfield and Greg Eisworth. Each of the trio of freshmen are versatile and could play other spots, but are getting invaluable reps in spring practices. Custis and Eisworth bring excellent coverage skills to the position and could really excel.

Hartsfield, thus far, has impressed the most at the position. After a year at a prep school he appears to be game-ready, even in the rugged Southeastern Conference, but time will tell the tale there. Some services rated Hartsfield as a corner and he has the size to play safety. He is another guy who brings versatility to the unit but combing his coverage abilities with his physical gifts could make him a perfect fit at husky.

With known talents like Conner and Hampton leading the defensive backfield, this position can be a strength for the Landsharks, but it will take some quick learning from the youth scattered around the unit for it to really blossom. The leadership is there and the reps for youngsters this spring should really go a long way.

As far as corner there is talent, experience and stability that should also lend a major hand in bringing along the safeties and huskies. One thing is for certain, though, each of these positions is stocked with athleticism. That is no doubt a product of the masterful recruiting from Freeze and company over the past few cycles.

Speaking of, fall camp will provide an early look at what Texas preps Deontay Anderson and Jaylon Jones  can give the Rebels down the road. While it might be a full redshirt year before we know if Justin Conner will play corner and if Jarrion Street will move over to linebacker or husky. Each of the four coming in, though, are super talented.