Ole Miss Football: A Look At The 2018 Ole Miss Linebackers
OHT has been busy looking at and grading position groups for the 2018 Ole Miss football team and now we’re looking at the linebackers.
With the 2018 Ole Miss football season just around the corner Ole Hotty Toddy has been busy looking at the roster. So far we’ve looked at the offensive position groups and the defensive line and now we are at the linebackers corps. Just how good this position group will be remains to be seen this season. However, like all the other Rebels position groups this one has talent and experience in the depth chart.
For there to be a resurgence in the Landshark Defense this has to be a dominant position group. In 2017 we saw Demarquis Gates lead the team in tackles but now Gates has left and there will be a huge gap left to be filled. Of course, right now we can’t be sure who will secure that spot although we do know there are players who can.
Looking At The Roster
Ole Miss Rebels Football
Before you get too excited this is really a scary position group when it comes to the depth issues within it. On the depth chart there are only 7 Rebels linebackers available and after that there is nobody else.
Senior Detric Bing-Dukes is joined by junior Willie Hibbler and sophomores Donta Evans and Mohamed Sanogo. Also available at the LB position are redshirt freshmen Zikerrion Baker, Josh Clarke and Ryan Labanc.
Of course, this group will have to stay healthy throughout 2018 for there not to be more serious depth issues. The one upside is this thin group of linebackers had a good spring under new linebackers coach Jon Sumrall. Sumrall was hired by Matt Luke after several very good seasons at Troy.
So how does this position group grade out? Well while there is talent and experience on this depth chart there is the numbers game. Of course, with only 7 linebackers on the roster the grade drops.
Position Group Grade: B-
In Closing
Many Ole Miss football fans are worried about defense this coming season. We saw the defense get much better as the 2017 season progressed. Now we have the building blocks for a great 2018. How well we do will be tested on September 1st as the Rebels travel to Houston, Texas to take on Texas Tech. Here’s to a healthy and productive season for this talented position group. Hotty Toddy!