OXFORD — The preseason started Thursday for the University of Mississippi football team.
Today, the 105 Rebels who reported for the start of fall camp will take part in the annual Ole Miss Media Day before the team officially opens practice Saturday. OleMissSports.com’s RebelVision will offer a live streamline of Freeze’s press conference. OleMissSports.com also will have complete coverage of the day’s events.
“Our coaches and players are excited to get to work,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “Paul Jackson and our strength staff did a phenomenal job this summer preparing us for the grind ahead, and we’re looking forward to focusing on football and growing as a team over the next month.”
Twenty-three of the Rebels who reported are first-year players. Nearly every member of that group attended summer school and has been working out with the team. Trey Bledsoe, Daronte Bouldin, Ryan Buchanan, Evan Engram, Austin Golson, Bobby Hill, Davion Johnson, Devante Kincade, Herbert Moore, Kailo Moore, Robert Nkemdiche, Ray Ray Smith, Laquon Treadwell, Laremy Tunsil, and Jordan Wilkins enrolled in the first summer term, while Quincy Adeboyejo, Tony Conner, Derrick Jones, and David Kamara took part in the second session.
Fadol Brown and non-scholarship players Luke Davis, Cale Luke, and John Patrick Sherling also are new to the program. Brown’ is a transfer from Florida International University. Due to transfer rules, he will have to sit out this season. Davis, a linebacker from Trussville, Ala., was rated the No. 98 linebacker in the country according to Rivals.com, while Sherling is a linebacker who represented Fairhope, Ala., in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
Luke is a quarterback from Clinton. He is the son of assistant athletic director for player development Tom Luke, and the nephew of Rebel co-offensive coordinator Matt Luke.
Former South Panola High School standout Nick Brassell is no longer a member of the team, according to an Ole Miss press release.
“We are very disappointed that Nick is no longer a part of our program,” Freeze said in a statement. “While he showed much improvement, it was not enough to regain eligibility status. We wish him the best.”
Freeze said in the spring and summer he was uncertain if Brassell would be on the team’s fall roster. Brassell played at Ole Miss as a freshman in 2011. He transferred to East Mississippi Community College due to academic reasons and re-signed with the Rebels as part of the team’s 2013 signing class. He was enrolled at school in the spring and didn’t participate in the majority of the team’s spring drills so he could focus on football.
Brassell played in 12 games as a freshman year, starting seven (six at receiver, one at cornerback). The former prep All-American caught 24 passes for 336 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 14 tackles and five pass breakups at cornerback
On Thursday, Ole Miss held orientation meetings, which touch on academics, compliance, and other areas, and also held position meetings.
Ole Miss’ practices Saturday and Sunday are closed to the public. Fans can attend the team’s workouts from Monday through Saturday. Follow @OleMissFB on Twitter for daily updates on practice locations.
n In related news, a lack of depth at the position has forced the Rebels to move former South Panola High running back Nick Parker and walk-on running back Charles Scott to tight end.
n Also, Ole Miss landed another recruit from the state of Georgia on Thursday.
Sandy Creek High School defensive tackle Chris Williams gave a verbal commitment to the Rebels and became their fifth commitment from that state for the Class of 2014. Williams, a 6-foot, 288-pounder, is a three-star prospect, according to 247 Sports.
Williams’ commitment was reported on Twitter by Rivals.com’s Woody Wommack, among others. He also had offers from the University of Tennessee, Georgia Tech University, Mississippi State University, and Michigan State University, among other schools. He is Ole Miss’ 20th verbal commitment for 2014. Verbal commitments are non-binding. National signing day is Feb. 5.
Reports from The Oxford Eagle and The Press-Register (Mobile, Ala.) were included in this report.
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