Post-Spring Preview of Ole Miss Football

Can Expectations Come Reality?

Robert Nkemdiche(Left) and Laquon Treadwell(Right) on the Front Page of Athlon Sports

This season, Ole Miss seems to have its most complete team in awhile. High expectations become higher after having seen Mel Kiper, Jr.'s 2016 Mock Draft. He has Junior OL Laremy Tunsil going 2nd, Junior DT Robert Nkemdiche going 4th, Junior WR Laquon Treadwell going 7th, and Junior S Tony Conner going 20th. All four players topped the 2013 insane recruiting class. Although most mock drafts do not end up completely true, this prediction puts added pressure on this team this season. When you have three top ten players and four top twenty player on your roster, you should be winning many games. If the "football gods", as Neal McCready would say, came down and gave Hugh Freeze 8-4 or maybe even 9-3, he probably would not take it. This statement may seem a little crazy, but I believe if you have four early first-round caliber players, National Championship should be on your mind. No, I'm not saying that Ole Miss should or will go to the CFB Playoff, but it could certainly happen. In my opinion, a sub double-digit record is not a success. A 10-2 regular season record sound about right, for the Rebels have to visit the State of Alabama twice: at Alabama, at Auburn. Having said that, neither of those teams are much better(if any better) than Ole Miss, but home field advantage is everything. If Ole Miss fixes the OL health issue and find a QB that will benefit the team most, I would keep some big things in mind for this season, Rebel Nation.