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OXFORD ― Lane Kiffin’s crystal ball is cloudy.
Every year, the Ole Miss football coach has a few key position battles to monitor during preseason practice. Still, Kiffin said he’s usually had an idea for the likely outcomes of those competitions.
As the Rebels opened preseason practice ahead of the 2024 season on Wednesday, Kiffin explained that he can’t call on that same intuition.
“There are some (positions), including offensive line, that I don’t know if I could tell you and be right if I had to predict who was going to start,” Kiffin said.
It’s a function of the Rebels’ aggressive approach to the offseason, landing impact transfers even at positions with returning talent.
The Rebels returned three offensive line starters in Micah Pettus, Jeremy James and Caleb Warren, while also adding four veterans from the transfer portal.
The offensive line grouping Ole Miss showed in the portion of practice open to the media featured Southern Miss transfer Gerquan Scott at center. Around him were four returners: James, Warren, Pettus and Jayden Williams. Washington transfer Nate Kalepo did not dress during the open session.
Maintaining a positive culture despite the transfer turnover has been a major focus for Kiffin of late. According to James, that approach has been effective on the offensive line, where the competition is the most fierce.
“Probably as close as we’ve ever been,” James said. “Everyone’s getting along well. It’s just making competition, which is good for all of us, pushing each other. The new guys fit in well, we all love them already.”
STORYLINES: Lane Kiffn’s most pressing Ole Miss football issues as preseason practice begins
There are several other spots where Rebels who produced well last season will have to fight for snaps over the next few weeks, including defensive line and secondary.
So is running back,…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ole-miss-football-depth-chart-225614970.html
Author : The Clarion Ledger
Publish date : 2024-07-31 22:56:14
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