There has been a lot of chatter about what went wrong last year for the Rebels. Both fans and coaches alike have pointed towards the lack of a consistent running game. The running back position was a point of emphasis this offseason. However, that is only one part of the equation when it comes to a running attack. Perhaps the even more important factor is the strength of the offensive line.
For as successful as Ole Miss has been under Lane Kiffin, they have yet to really dominate the trenches on the offensive side of the ball. Last year was supposed to be a major step forward. However, it never materialized. There have been questions about the recruiting, development, and overall play of the offensive line.
There is reason for fans to have some optimism. The Rebels returned two key tackles in Diego Pound and Jayden Williams. They also added five transfers, including OG Patrick Kutas from Arkansas, PJ Wilkins, Delano Townsend, Terez Davis, and Percy Lewis. The staff also signed their highest-rated offensive lineman recruit in the Kiffin era in Devin Harper. Let's look at what the line could look like.
Diego Pounds, left tackle
The 6-foot-6 and 340-pound tackle was a massive addition last offseason, coming in from UNC. It took Diego a while to get settled in, whether that was injury-related or just getting adjusted to the speed of the SEC.
However, by the end of the season, he had developed into a solid tackle. There was top-three round buzz surrounding him before last season, although that form didn't materialize, he contains a ton of potential.
Delano Townsend, left guard
The redshirt sophomore and Flint, Michigan native transferred to Ole Miss this past offseason. He played in all 12 games for UAB last year, starting in 11 of them. He was one of the top interior offensive linemen in the portal, ranked 8th overall and a 4-star transfer according to 247Sports. Look for him to be a consistent presence on the line.
Brycen Sanders, center
Sanders is one of the highest-rated linemen to commit to the Rebels under Kiffin. After playing sparingly his first two seasons in Oxford, the expectation is for Sanders to take a massive step forward. The former 4-star prospect from Baylor School in Tennessee will need to click for the Rebels.
Patrick Kutas, right guard
The Memphis native is returning closer to home for his fourth year of college football. Kutas dealt with various injuries during his time at Arkansas that limited his playing time. However, when on the field, he is a dominant SEC guard.
He was one of the prized possessions of this portal class for the Rebels. According to 247Sports, he was the top interior lineman in the portal and the 15th overall player. The big question is his durability, but if he is healthy, he will be a difference maker.
Jayden Williams, right tackle
The fourth-year Rebel might be the best lineman of this bunch. He, too, has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when healthy last year, he graded out as the best lineman on the team. His injury was a major hindrance to last year's team. He will flip to the right side this year as QB Austin Simmons is a southpaw, so the right side of the line is his blind side.
The depth of this team along the offensive line is also much better. PJ Wilkins is an incredibly athletic and long player. He transferred in after his freshman season at Charlotte. Percy Lewis, who has worked on shedding some weight, brings a ton of SEC experience. He appeared in 25 games for MS State over two seasons and then started 5 games last year for Auburn. He has the ability to play both tackle and guard.
Terez Davis is a really intriguing prospect. He transferred to Ole Miss from Maryland in the spring window. He played in 10 games, starting several at tackle as an 18-year-old true freshman in the Big 10.