Although it might be weird for some to hear that the Ole Miss Rebels have arguably some of the best potential for NFL Draft prospects in the SEC, recent history has proven that shouldn’t be the case. Mississippi has produced the likes of DK Metcalf, A.J. Brown, Dawson Knox, Elijah Moore, Jonathan Mingo, and a host of Day 3 picks since 2019. And that’s only accounting for skill-position players. So what do the Rebels have to boast about in 2023?
Ole Miss Rebels Roster and Depth Chart Changes
A QB competition between Jaxson Dart, Spencer Saunders, and freshman transfer Walker Howard could make for a fascinating story and a fun offense if the competition ends up being more of a luxury than a necessity. And it helps that according to 247 Sports, Lane Kiffin and Co. absolutely dominated the transfer portal.
Like many college football teams post-pandemic, the Rebels are stacked with redshirt juniors and seniors on both sides of the ball. In fact, according to Ourlads, Ole Miss’ defense is slated to start only one junior, with the rest of the depth chart holding senior designations.
But Mississippi also has a not-so-secret weapon that’s not draft-eligible but would be talked about far and wide if he was. Quinshon Judkins is one of the best backs in the country. He amasses just shy of 1,700 yards from scrimmage a season ago and scored an astonishing 17 touchdowns on his 289 touches.
Ole Miss’ NFL Draft Prospects
Michael Trigg, TE
Although there is some senior talent to talk about, the power of SEC football is in the underclassmen. Many will emerge as they first get a chance to step on the playing field after elder statesmen have already left, but the Rebels have one that we’re already keeping a close eye on.
Michael Trigg’s hands are outstanding. Although there’s a lot of nuance left to iron out in his game as a route runner, Trigg could be a quarterback’s best friend in the red zone at the next level because he thrives in a phone booth. He also possesses outstanding feel for attacking the ball in the air in contested situations.
Playing tight end is awkward unless an offensive coordinator has specifically crafted the passing attack to work through a playmaker at that position. Most college tight ends leave with fewer than 100 career catches. That will be the case for Trigg as well, so showing marked improvement technically in the chances he does get will be critical to his draft stock in April.
DeShawn Gaddie, CB
There are few players who could help their professional stock more than DeShawn Gaddie could with a strong performance in the SEC. The North Texas Mean Green transfer appears to be an NFL-caliber athlete with good length and a knack for finding the passing lane, even if he’s been unable to secure an INT since 2020.
Gaddie will need to prove that he is a willing tackler in a conference that will try to punish cornerbacks in the run game. He must also show that his high-waisted pedal can be ironed out for a more sustainable base to transition from.
And while he appears to have NFL upside, Gaddie must first wiggle his way into the starting lineup alongside Deantre Prince and Zamari Walton.
Other Notable Names
- Ulysses Bentley IV, RB
- Jared Ivey, EDGE
- Deantre Prince, CB
- Khari Coleman, LB
- Cedric Johnson, EDGE
- Tre Harris, WR
Ole Miss Rebels Schedule
- Week 1
Sept. 2: vs. Mercer Bears - Week 2
Sept. 9: at Tulane Green Wave - Week 3
Sept. 16: vs. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets - Week 4
Sept. 23: at Alabama Crimson Tide - Week 5
Sept. 30: vs. LSU Tigers - Week 6
Oct. 7: vs. Arkansas Razorbacks - Week 7
BYE - Week 8
Oct. 21: at Auburn Tigers - Week 9
Oct. 28: vs. Vanderbilt Commodores - Week 10
Nov. 4: vs. Texas A&M Aggies - Week 11
Nov. 11: at Georgia Bulldogs - Week 12
Nov. 18: vs. ULM Warhawks - Week 13
Nov. 25: at Mississippi State Bulldogs - Week 14
BYE - Week 15
BYE