4/12 Spring Analysis - Ole Miss JUCO Stars

Opinions, analysis, and information about during the spring session. ... What's going on in spring ball?

By Guinn Terry Davis

JUCOs Make Impact in the Spring for Rebels

If there is one thing that has been apparent during the 2010 spring training session for the Ole Miss Rebels, it is that the defense is further along at this point than the offense. There were many questions regarding the strength of this year's defensive unit, due to the loss of stalwarts such as DE Greg Hardy, DE Marcus Tillman, FS Kendrick Lewis and WLB Patrick Trahan. However, these key positions have been filled by JUCO players that were signed this past fall. Perhaps the most notable contributions have come from DE Wayne Dorsey, who was in the starting role in last Saturday's scrimmage, and FS Damien Jackson. Both of these players came from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

One the offensive side of the ball, there has been no obvious leader in the quarterback race as of yet. However, due to freshman Raymond Cotton's lingering arm soreness, sophomore Nathan Stanley has distanced himself from the other quarterback candidates, and if the season started tomorrow, he would get the starting nod. The season is still months away, though, and the wild card in the quarterback race will be JUCO transfer, Randall Mackey, who arrives in Oxford this summer.

Both Head Coach Houston Nutt and Defensive Coordinator Tyrone Nix have state that both sides of the ball are showing potential, but there is room for improvement. The Rebels will have one more week until the annual Red-Blue spring football game to iron out these wrinkles.