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Ole Miss Football: Rebels Offensive Line will be Huge Factor in 2018

By Daniel Skipper

TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: Sean Rawlings #50 of the Mississippi Rebels and his teammates celebrate their 43-37 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
TUSCALOOSA, AL - SEPTEMBER 19: Sean Rawlings #50 of the Mississippi Rebels and his teammates celebrate their 43-37 win over the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 19, 2015 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Ole Miss football is in fall practice getting ready for their season opener against Texas Tech and the Rebels offensive line will be a huge factor.

The offensive line is another position group from which Ole Miss football has been known to produce some great players. For example there are seven former Rebels offensive linemen who are currently on NFL rosters. In 2018 the Rebels offensive is solid with great size, speed, talent and experience and are expected to play a huge role in the Rebels success this season. When you look at the Rebels depth you realize what an impressive group they are for the fast paced Longo offense.

The Rebels currently have 18 offensive linemen on the roster which makes them one of the deepest position groups. In 2017 the Rebels front five was outstanding and have four returning starters coming back this season which have 103 combined career starts which makes them a very experienced group. The projected 2018 starting five present a very imposing front for the Rebels offense and Jordan Ta’amu. However the Rebels can boast a second string line which could probably be able to start and still be very effective.

Front Five Starters

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The Rebels starting front five is anchored at center by senior Sean Rawlings. Rawlings at 6’4 and 293 lbs has 25 career starts. Rawlings has been named to the 2018 Rimington Trophy Watch List and was selected 2018 Preseason Fourth Team All-SEC by Athlon.

Rawlings is joined by big senior left guard Javon Patterson who checks in at 6’3 and 310 lbs and boast 30 career starts on the offensive line. In 2018 Patterson has been named Preseason Second Team All-SEC by Lindy’s and Preseason Third Team by Athlon. Patterson has also been named to the 2018 Wuerffel Award Watch List.

At right guard for the Rebels is senior Jordan Sims whos is listed at 6’4 and 326 lbs. Sims has been versitile making 18 career starts at guard on both sides of the offensive line for the Rebels. Also on the right side at tackle is junior Alex Givens who at 6’6 and 305 lbs has made career12 starts on the Rebels offensive line. On the opposite side at left tackle there is junior Greg Little who checks in at 6’6 and 325 lbs and boasts 17 starts. Little has been named as 2018 Preseason First Team All-American and Preseason First Team All-SEC tackle. Little also holds 2018 Outland Trophy and Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Watch List.

Front Five Rotation

The Rebels offensive line is deep as we said and when you look at the players in the front five rotation you see it. Backing up Sean Rawlings at center is sophomore Eli Johnson who comes into the 2018 season at 6’1 and 303 lbs. Behind Javon Patterson at left guard is red-shirt freshman Bryce Mathews who checks in at 6’6 and 300 lbs. At left tackle backing up Greg Little is sophomore Royce Newman at 6’5 and 301 lbs.

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Across the Rebels offensive line at right guard backing up Jordan Sims is red-shirt freshman Ben Brown who measures in at 6’5 and 318 lbs. And at the right tackle position backing up Alex Givens is red-shirt sophomore Tony Gray who checks in at 6’5 and 311 lbs. Although they are young and may not have the experience of the starters they are all very talented and did see some playing time in the 2017 season.

Digging Deeper

The Rebels have more really good linemen on the depth chart who could always wind up seeing significant playing time as the season grind begins. Of course they are younger and have less experience but are still very big and talented on the offensive line. The remainder of the offensive linemen on the Rebels roster is listed below.

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The Rebels offensive line is a position group which is never recognized for their importance in the Phil Longo offense. This is a very talented and experienced group of starters and back-ups and their performances will be a key component to the Rebels offensive success in 2018. Of course, the big men will be in action when the Rebels kickoff the season opener in Houston against Texas Tech on September 1. Kickoff is set for 11am CT and will be aired on ESPN. Good luck to all the Rebels offensive linemen in the 2018 Ole Miss football season. Hotty Toddy!

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