OXFORD — For the first time in years, the Ole Miss football team begins preseason practice with nothing hanging over it.
The NCAA’s five-year investigation resulted in a postseason ban for 2018, four years probation, a financial penalty of $179,000, and a scholarship reduction of 13 over a period of years.
The news allows Ole Miss to focus on football, which it did Thursday when it kicked off practice for the 2018 season.
The postseason ban remains the subject of an appeal, but the Rebels aren’t going to allow it to be a distraction.
“They already know, so we prepare for the worst and if something better happens, it’s a bonus,” Ole Miss coach Matt Luke said.
Said offensive lineman Greg Little, “My only focus is making myself better, and this team getting better every single day. We can get to football now.”
Even with the uncertainty about the appeal, the Rebels, who went 6-6 last season, have other unanswered questions, primarily on the defensive front.
Ole Miss lost its two most productive defenders, DeMarquis Gates and Breeland Speaks, from a defense that ranked 13th in the Southeastern Conference in rushing yards allowed per carry. Gates and Speaks combined for 18 tackles for a loss, including nine sacks, and each recovered a fumble.
The story behind them isn’t much different.
“The biggest question at linebacker is which guy is going to step up, which of the young guys is going to step up?” Luke said. “All of those guys are talented, but they have to show that they can do it.”
Luke expects competition at right guard, where Ben Brown and Jordan Sims will battle for the spot not spoken for by a returning starter. Sean Rawlings, Javon Patterson, Alex Givens, and Little will round out the line.
Luke expects the culture he sees taking hold in his program to maintain productive position battles.
“When you see that competitive character showing up in your team,” he said, “that’s when you know your guys are ready to play.”
Personnel notes
Luke said defensive end Tariqious Tisdale joined the program Thursday. Tisdale comes from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia and is a welcome addition to a unit that lost Noah Jefferson, a defensive tackle from Arizona Western College. Jefferson didn’t meet NCAA eligibility standards and won’t be with the team.
Luke said Jalen Cunningham will stay with the defensive line in an effort to provide depth.
On the injury front, Luke said he will have a better idea about junior running back D’Vaughn Pennamon later in preseason camp. Pennamon suffered a dislocated right leg knee in a 31-24 loss to Texas A&M on Nov. 18, 2017, in Oxford.
The 5-foot-11, 238-pound junior had 53 carries for 217 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games last season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 43 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.