Greg McElroy explains why Ole Miss is a sleeper team

ESPN’s College football expert Greg McElroy recently revealed his list of surprise teams to the start of the 2023 season. His list was short, only featuring two teams. But the first team on McElroy’s list was the SEC’s Ole Miss Rebels.

“Now, a lot of people are gonna sit there and say, hang on a second, how did things go down the stretch last year? Not so good,” said McElroy. “We understand that. 8-1, though, in their first nine games. Fast forward a bit, and they lose their final four games and finish season 8-5. And the defensive performance against Arkansas left an awful lot to be desired.

“But we all know that Lane Kiffin has done a really good job in the portal. Not just at the quarterback spot but at other positions, as well. I think they have difference-makers potentially at tight end. They have difference-makers at wide receiver, and I also think they might have the nation’s best running back in Quinshon Judkins.”

Lane Kiffin is considered one of the better offensive minds in college football. And he’s put that to good use during his tenure at Ole Miss. He has done it in a myriad of ways: with impressive quarterback play in 2021 with Matt Corral and a dominant running game in 2022 led by Quinshon Judkins.

For as good as Ole Miss’ offense has been, their defense has been an area of weakness. But McElroy believes their defense should be much improved with the moves the Rebels made this offseason.

“Well, let’s talk a little bit about what’s plagued them; that’s the defensive side of the football. They brought in Pete Golding from Alabama. (He’s) going to alter the structure, alter the way they line up down to down. They’re not gonna be so soft, giving up underneath stuff and play dink and dunk, bend, don’t break. No, this is gonna be a group that attacks. And when you look at some of the pieces that they had on the defense side, I think the front seven is a chance to be on the top end of the SEC.

Outside the offense and defense, McElroy believes that depth might be the real issue for Ole Miss in 2023. But even with that being the case, he stands firm on his belief that they will be a sleeper team next season.

“Now, part of the problem for Ole Miss is their depth. Will they have enough depth? That’s the big question. However, they are certainly on the shortlist of sleeper teams.

“Look, everyone’s gonna talk Bama; everyone’s gonna talk LSU; everyone’s gonna talk Texas A&M. Don’t sleep on the Rebels. Just telling you, do not sleep on the Rebels heading into this year.”