Which position room on the Ole Miss defense is the strongest in 2024?
Yesterday, I asked for some interaction from our readers about the best position room on offense for the 2024 Ole Miss football team.
Today, I’d like your take on which position unit you think is the strongest on the defense.
I think this one is as open to different opinions as the offense because of the offseason work the coaches and The Grove Collective did in shoring up all the different defensive positions by adding quality talent.
With the addition of Arkansas transfer Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. the maturation of Clemson transfer T.J. Dudley, the experience of returning veteran Khari Coleman, the spring emergence of Tyler Banks and the addition of Raymond Collins from the JUCO ranks, a valid argument could be made for the linebacker.
With returning starters John Saunders, Jr. and Trey Washington; the additions of transfers Yam Banks, Key Lawrence and Louis Moore; the health of Jadon Canady finally taking a turn for the better and the signing of several promising young safeties it would not be farfetched to champion the safeties on the Rebel defense as the strongest unit.
With the transfer additions of Alabama’s Trey Amos, Tennessee’s Brandon Turnage and Houston’s Isaiah Hamilton to go along with returnee Chris Graves, JUCO Cedrick Beavers and freshman Travaris Banks, who showed a lot of promise in the spring session, the cornerback positions seem to be in good shape.
So, I guess you have ascertained that I’m going to make my argument for the defensive line as the most potent on the 2024 Ole Miss defense.
Let’s start inside, which I believe is the strength within the strength of the defensive front. Returning veterans J.J. Pegues, Zxavian Harris and Akelo Stone give a very solid base to start with. Pegues wants to finish his collegiate career with a bang and Harris is on the cusp of doing some really good things. Stone is a pass rush specialist from the inside with quickness and play-making ability.
Those three alone would make up a quality line, but there are two other names that jump off the page. One is redshirt freshman Jamarious Brown, a player who has turned heads since stepping on campus over a year ago.
The other is Texas A&M transfer Walter Nolen, regarded by many as the number one transfer player in the country. Walter made the most positive impression of any of the transfers in spring – by far. Paul put is simply, “I’ve never seen anyone like him,” said Paul, referring to the combination of strength and speed Nolen possesses. Nolen has the opportunity to leave Ole Miss in the same breath as Peria Jerry, Kelvin Pritchett, Robert Nkemdiche and Ben Williams.
On the outside, we have to start with senior Jared Ivey, who showed his versatility last season by playing inside and outside and producing at both assignments. Jared has been working on his edge rushing and if that improves like we anticipate, he will be hard to deal with. Florida transfer Princely Umanmielen had offseason shoulder surgery and the anticipation is for him to be ready for the season. He’s a double-digit sack player.
True freshman Kam Franklin, who was in camp for spring training, showed flashes of why he was the number one player in Mississippi last season. A little more position growth in the offseason and in August and he will contribute this fall.
Suntarine Perkins may well be the most discussed player outside of Jaxson Dart on the whole team. He and Princely will man the rush end responsibilities and don’t be shocked if Perkins doesn’t have as many sacks as Umanmielen. The 5-star athlete, it says here, will make a substantial jump forward this season.
Late transfer Chris Hardie, a senior, from Jacksonville State should also pack a punch at 6-foot-2, 275 pounds and young bucks DeeJay Holmes, Jr. and Chamberlain Campbell have shown they can be counted on as well.
So, the defensive line is our pick for best defensive unit for the upcoming season.
What’s yours?
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