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Dec. 27—ATLANTA — There’s a careful balance to teambuilding in the NIL and transfer portal era of college football. And Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding seems to be adjusting just fine.
Golding is in his first season as the Rebels’ (10-2, 6-2 SEC) defensive coordinator after leaving the same position at Alabama. Ole Miss’ much-improved defense — the Rebels have moved up 20 spots nationally in points per game allowed this season and rank fourth in the SEC at 21.8 points per game allowed.
That defensive resurgence is a big reason why No. 11 Ole Miss is playing in its second New Year’s Six game in three years, as the Rebels face No. 10 Penn State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) in the Peach Bowl Saturday.
In addition to Golding implementing a new scheme, the Rebels also had brand-new personnel all along the defense — six spots atop the latest Ole Miss depth chart are filled by first-year players with the program.
While the task at hand in Atlanta is still at the forefront of everything currently, Golding and the Rebels have received plenty of good news in recent weeks. In addition to signing four four-star defensive lineman on National Signing Day, the Rebels have the top-ranked transfer portal class in the nation.
Headlining the haul is the portal’s top-ranked player, former Texas A&M defensive lineman Walter Nolen, and joining four other defensive players ranked in 247Sports’ top-60 transfers — edge rushers Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and Tyler Baron (Tennessee), cornerback Decamerion Richardson (Mississippi State) and linebacker Chris Paul Jr. (Arkansas).
Golding discussed his teambuilding philosophy with reporters Wednesday.
“I think we’re in a unique time in college football, to be honest with you. I think now it’s more as building teams than programs,” Golding said. “Don’t take that the wrong way, just…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/pete-golding-balances-building-defense-020600558.html
Author : Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Tupelo
Publish date : 2023-12-28 02:06:00
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