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Ole Miss Football: What We Want To See More Of From Spring Practice

By Daniel Skipper

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Ole Miss Rebels watches his team warm up before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach Matt Luke of the Ole Miss Rebels watches his team warm up before a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Razorbacks defeated the Rebels 38-37. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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Defensive Focal Points

Ole Miss Rebels Football
Ole Miss Rebels Football /

Ole Miss Rebels Football

Of course, last year the defensive side of the ball was very inconsistent. However, we did see them begin to get better as the season progressed. Allowing defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff to have a season under his belt will certainly be very beneficial moving forward for this defense.

There were issues at a number of positions when it came to both experience and depth. The linebacker and secondary positions were an eye-sore last season so we surely want to see  improvement in those areas. Of course, with new coaches at both positions we will certainly get a new look.

Those two new coaches are Jon Sumrall and Charles Clark who were hired by Matt Luke and DC Wesley McGriff to shore up those two positions. Spring practice has injected a new level of excitement within these two spots on the defense. With the talent level these two positions contain they just need some good coaching to make them better.

Under The Microscope

With Brendan Williams being moved to the DE position there are only 7 linebackers listed on the spring roster. Of course at the LB position there are players we are wanting to see more from in the spring. They include red-shirt freshman Josh Clarke, sophomores Mohamed Sanogo, Donte Evans and junior Willie Hibbler.

At the defensive back position there are 16 players listed on the spring roster. 6 of those 16 are seniors and 6 are juniors. This group is very talented and there is a high level of experience for coach Charles Clark to build upon. Some of those we are watching we are wanting to see more from include sophomore DD Bowie, junior Jaylon Jones and senior CJ Moore.

One player we are especially anxious to see this spring is junior college transfer Vernon Dasher who signed in the early period. Although he was recruited as a linebacker he is listed as a DB on the roster. Better known as a STAR, Dasher will play a combination of a LB/DB hybrid. Dasher played outside linebacker in junior college and was the No.2 available juco OLB in the 2018 national signing class.

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