Ole Miss mining Washington (and elsewhere) to address needy OL showing up this spring
Ole Miss football over the winter evaluated Washington offensive linemen Nate Kalepo and Julius Buelow individually.
So, don’t call the Rebels landing both a package deal.
The Rebels reeled in the pair within days of each other and towards the tail end of a busy transfer off-season across the board. Ole Miss boasts the No. 3 portal class in the country, according to On3.
The Rebels also brought in North Carolina mauler Diego Pounds, as well as veteran swingman Gerquan Scott, formerly of Southern Miss. Pounds, however, is currently one of the many Rebels practicing in a black, no-contact jersey, signifying injury.
Ole Miss winds down spring practices this week. The Rebels have two more sessions, including the ‘Grove Bowl Games’ Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
Ole Miss is forgoing the typical, mock Rebel Game Day for a multi-competition, fan-friendly event. The Rebels will hold, among others, a team-wide 7-on-7 and hot-dog-eating and dunk contests.
“It wasn’t done on purpose to get two guys from the same team,” Ole Miss fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin said after practice on Tuesday. “We had evaluated them separately and they happened to both come. So, wasn’t type of a package thing or any of that. Just thought there’s a lot of experience there.
“They both played really well, including one (Kalepo) at different spots, and the versatility of that. They run a really good offense, too, and a program that did things really well. That’s always good. They’re veteran and they fit in well. Really glad they’re here.”
Washington offensive linemen Julius Buelow (left) and Nate Kalepo (right) pose for a photo during media day before the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Michigan Wolverines at George R Brown Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Washington last season finished as the national title runner-up to Michigan.
The Huskies fell in the championship game.
Their head coach, Kalen DeBoer, left to take over for Nick Saban at Alabama. Saban is one of the greatest college football coaches of all-time and won seven national titles, all at Alabama. He retired in January.
Ole Miss, meanwhile, won a program-record 11 games and is already considered a playoff contender for 2024. They’ve been ranked as high as No. 5 overall in the preseason. They brought back a number of accomplished veterans to mix in with the transfers. Headlining the group was quarterback Jaxson Dart and wide receivers Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins.
But they had to address their offensive line, even as they brought back starting center Caleb Warren and right guard Jeremy James. Pounds is running with the second team at left tackle. Buelow is first-team right tackle beside James.
Kalepo has the versatility to play everywhere. He worked as the No. 1 left guard on Tuesday.
“My boy Victor Curne played for you guys last year,” Kalepo said. “Really good player. He played a big part in (Kalepo ending up at Ole Miss).
“I did a lot of communication with him and he was saying (if) you want to play the best, be the best and go against the best competition … that was here at Ole Miss.”
The 6-foot-3, 325-pound Kalepo has appeared in 22 career games.
He has has one year of eligibility remaining.
The 6-foot-8, 315-pound Buelow spent five seasons at Washington. He started nine of 12 games last season, as Kalepo and Buelow were key members of a Husky offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award. The Joe Moore Award is handed out each year to the best OL unit in the sport.
Washington allowed just 12 sacks in 15 games and averaged the second-most yards nationally. The Rebels were dead-set on getting bigger and more physical up front for next season, when the College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams. Ole Miss has been ranked in the Top 10 in each of the last three.
Kiffin said as much after Ole Miss was blown out at Georgia in November.
“I’m very realistic,” Kiffin said at the time. “That was not playoff-looking team at all that we put out there today. We’ve got to recruit at a higher level. I’m not blaming. We’ve got to coach better.
“At some point, whatever those stats are, we’ve signed one five-star, they’ve signed 24,” Kiffin said. “It kind of (does) show up at some point. We would have to recruit at a better level. Do a better job of recruiting.”
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