A healthy Jalen Knox is good news for a semi new look Ole Miss wide receivers room

There are a lot of things to be excited about with the Ole Miss offense heading into the 2023 season but one group has some unknowns despite having numbers in the position room, including Jalen Knox.

Ole Miss is without Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath, who were two of the Southeastern Conference’s top receivers in 2022. That leaves two big voids in the wide receivers room and the Rebels are working to find the depth of that group this spring.

One positive is getting a healthy Knox back into the fold after the Missouri transfer battled injuries throughout last year. After coming to Ole Miss prior to the 2021 season, last year was meant to a potential breakout year for Knox. That did not happen.

Now as Ole Miss winding down its second week of spring practices Knox is working his way back up into the rotation

“It’s been fun. That’s the best way I can put it,” Knox said after Thursday’s practice. “Just going out there to make plays again. Felt like I don’t really have anything hindering me. Just really focus on my technique and just go out there and play. Top notch feeling.”

Last season Knox took a total of three snaps at the receiver position but did not record any stats. From there his 2022 was about recovering from injuries and never really became a factor on the field in any major way outside of appearing on special teams units throughout.

“I felt like I never really got the chance to just focus on football,” Knox said. “I remember last year I was talking about how I was going through the whole school thing and trying to get my hours back. Between that and having surgery on my foot, taking a full year off of not playing football and then coming back, my body was just not right. I really just had to lock back in and do what I could on special teams. Make an impact where I could.”

Ole Miss is without its top two receivers from 2022 and that means nothing but an opportunity for Knox in final year.

With Mingo and Heath gone so goes 1,832 of the 3,117 total receiving yards from last season as well as 10 of the 22 receiving touchdowns.

The door is open for someone to jump and become the go-to leading receiver, which could be one of the newcomers via the portal like Tre Harris or Chris Marshall. But Knox is fully aware of how important this spring is.

“I feel like the table’s open for anybody to go make plays and just show who can play now,” Knox said. “Every opportunity I’m giving I’m trying to make the most of it. Just go make my money how I can.”

Of last year’s receivers who are returning Jordan Watkins is the top returner with 449 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 2022. Tight end Michael Trigg right behind with 309 yards and three touchdowns. No other receiver finished with more than 156 receiving yards.

Head coach Lane Kiffin went into the transfer portal and brought in players like Harris and Marshall to help beef up and re-stock the room.

Then there is the new-look quarterback room with Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard joining Jaxson Dart. Plenty of new faces in the mix at the passer and receiver positions. Getting everyone on the same page and gelling as quickly as possible is goal number one.

“I just want to see them really play well with the new quarterbacks,” Kiffin said last week. “They need to mesh with those guys as spring drills continue. Those guys will have a lot of work to do and a lot of production to be replaced from those two outside receivers.”

Watch Knox’s full post-practice interview below. Video provided by Ole Miss Sports Productions.