Chuck’s Camp Series: Ole Miss offensive players with bigger/different roles in 2022

There’s one constant in college football.

Every year there will be multiple players who will get bigger or different roles in the grand scheme of things after being backups the year(s) prior.

The 2022 offense has several examples of this natural evolution of teams.

WIDE RECEIVER DANNIS JACKSON

The 6-0 170-pound senior speedster has been on the back burner for most of his career.

Sometimes it’s just been a case of Ole Miss having “better” at his position and sometimes it’s been a case of not shining enough to move ahead of the players in front of him when he did get opportunities.

Last season, for instance, Dannis played in 10 games but only had 12 catches. On the flip side, he did score twice and he did have the second-highest yards per catch average on the team at 20.3.

In spring training, with the gate wide open for him to step through, he showed signs of being “that guy.” He can stretch the field, he seemed more sure-handed and he has savvy and maturity now.

He’s going to have a bigger role this year, there’s little doubt. How will Jackson handle it? We’ll see soon enough.

NEARLY THE ENTIRE OFFENSIVE LINE

Yes, Left Tackle Jeremy James, Left Guard Nick Broeker and Center Caleb Warren have had big/starting roles for some time now, all three will be in different positions this fall, as has been well-documented since spring.

The musical chairs being played by the three veterans should not pose a huge problem, but attempting that many moves may not be as smooth as silk early on. There has to be some kind of learning curve going on individually and as a unit.

Right Guard Eli Acker is certain to have a bigger role. Even though he started a couple of games last season, he was dealing with a nagging shoulder injury most of the year.

Acker, at 6-5 300 pounds, is said to be one of the strongest players on the team and he had a very productive spring by all accounts. He should be able to handle the extra playing time and the gravity of his starting assignment.

One other factor in Acker’s favor would be that he is surrounded by veterans on both sides, including transfer RT Mason Brooks, who started three seasons at Western Kentucky.

But speaking of Brooks, his version of a bigger role will be playing on a bigger stage against better players week after week. Something to keep an eye on.

TIGHT END MICHAEL TRIGG

Yes, we’re well aware we have been tooting this guy’s horn since we first laid eyes on him, and he deserved all the spring praise he got, but the fact of the matter is that he is very young and very inexperienced.

At Southern Cal last year, his true freshman campaign, Trigg caught just seven passes in four games prior to sustaining a lower leg injury that cost him most of the season.

The expectations for the 6-3 240-pound sophomore are extremely high, but don’t be totally surprised if there is an adjustment period before he starts lighting things up.

Rest assured, however, if spring drills were any indication of his future, he will light it up and he will be dynamic.

QUARTERBACKS LUKE ALTMYER AND JAXSON DART

Last, but probably most importantly, no matter who wins the QB job, he will have a bigger role than he did a year ago.

Dart has the most experience with six games under his belt at Southern Cal. In those games, he completed 117-189 attempts for 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, the area that plagued him in spring. Individually, impressive stats but the Trojans were 2-4 with Jaxson under center.

Altmyer has career stats of 20-37 for 192 yards, one TD and two picks. After Matt Corral was injured in the Sugar Bowl, Luke took over in his first meaningful action and did a solid job under the circumstances and despite being sacked seven times and being under constant pressure by a dominant Baylor defensive line.

On the plus side, this season, with due respect to the early opposition, the quarterback and the players with bigger/different roles should be able to get settled in with starts against Troy and Central Arkansas before things toughen up a bit against Georgia Tech in Atlanta.