With Ole Miss football just over the horizon we are already looking at different positions and grading them heading into the 2018 football season.
With the 2018 Ole Miss football season looming we are all excited to see our Rebels take the field this year. Of course, there are areas of question for this Rebels team and over the next few weeks OHT will address some of those areas. For now we are beginning with my favorite position and that is running-back.
In 2017 we watched as the rushing game got progressively better throughout the season. We watched as Jordan Wilkins, who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, rushed for over a 1000 yards. We also saw a number of other backs who ran in support and did a relatively good job in the Phil Longo offense. Of course, now with Wilkins headed to the NFL there is a void left in the premier starting spot. It leaves us to wonder who will step up and fill his cleats.
The Depth Chart
Ole Miss Rebels Football
So with Jordan Wilkins gone where does the Ole Miss football depth chart sit at the running-back position? For now there are 8 Rebels listed at the RB position. Of course some of those are new faces on the roster. First, lets look at the returners from last season.
The Rebels are returning three running-backs who saw playing time last season. Senior DK Buford and junior Eric Swinney and D’Vaughn Pennamon all had carries in 2017. Buford only carried the ball 8 times in 2018 for 28 yards. Swinney had 41 carries for 195 yards rushing with 3 TDs while Pennamon had 53 carries for 217 yards and 2 TDs.
Of course coach Matt Luke and Phil Longo made a key move with Armani Linton from DB to the RB position. Linton played RB in high-school and was very good. With the needed depth at the running back position we can expect to see Linton in action this fall.
The New Faces
Coach Matt Luke and his staff also added a couple of new faces to the RB depth chart with the 2018 Ole Miss football recruiting class. The Rebels added Isaiah Woullard and Scottie Phillips to the roster which will add to the depth and also provide an infusion of competition headed into the fall. We can expect Phillips to make an immediate impact as he did in the Grove Bowl. Phillips had 9 carries for 40 yards in the annual spring game for the Rebels.
Preseason Grade
Not knowing who may emerge as the premier back for the Rebels leaves us a little uneasy as we grade the position headed into 2018. However, the talent is certainly there if the Rebels can find the go to guy in the stable. For now we give this position group a B based simply on the depth and talent level. This is a very good group of backs if they can get cranked up early in the season.
Preseason Grade: B