Forecasting the Ole Miss defense depth chart ahead of fall camp

Ole Miss football opens up its fall preseason camp next week and begins the preparations for the 2022 campaign.

With that in mind it is time to crystal ball what the depth might, or should, look like for the Ole Miss defense heading into August. Here at the Ole Miss Spirit, we took a crack at forecasting what the offense depth chart should look like earlier in the week, but now its time to look on the other side of the football.

The defense, on paper, has the look of being more settled and having less questions than the offense does.

DEFENSIVE END

Cedric Johnson
Jared Ivey
Jamond Gordon
Tavious Robinson
Brandon Mack
Jakivuan Brown

While Ole Miss’ offensive front five are the most veteran group on the offense the defensive front for the Rebels brings back plenty of experience as well. But there is one massive hole to fill in the departure of Sam Williams who is now a Dallas Cowboy.

That starts with Cedric Johnson who has said time and time again he is putting the pressure on himself to be the new Williams and even surpass the sack total set by the new Cowboy last season.

Georgia Tech transfer Jared Ivey is an addition from the portal that provides more depth and experience at the end position. Ivey could also be a good rotation with Johnson to keep them both fresh throughout the game or see both in at the same time.

This season is the chance for Gordon to prove why Ole Miss was so high on him out of East Mississippi Community College. Gordon did not have a stellar 2021 inside at tackle but the move out to the EDGE position has provided a fresh start.

Battling an injury in the spring did not allow Robinson to show if there has been growth in his game to a substantial degree but the talent is there for the senior. Sophomores Mack and Brown should also expect looks and opportunities to further themselves up the chart come September.

DEFENSIVE TACKLE

K.D. Hill
JJ Pegues
DeSanto Rollins (OR)
Tywone Malone

The tackle position will go how Hill goes as he is the de-facto leader and veteran of the group. A four-year letterman and starter in 2021, Hill is going to be looked at to be the anchor of the group. While splitting playing time with three other players at the position he recorded 24 tackles.

One of two defensive transfers from Auburn, Pegues has taken like a fish to water playing the new position, possibly pushing Hill for significant playing time. When the Oxford native got to Auburn he started out as a tight end, the position he played in high school, but was quickly shifted to the defensive line. That transition worked out well, so far, as Pegues looked strong during spring practices.

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Coming into his sophomore seasons Rollins is going to be asked to take that next step in evolving his game up front. He had a good spring but will need to carry that momentum over into the next four weeks of fall camp.

Malone is back from his duties over on Swayze Field after the Ole Miss baseball team hoisted up its first national championship and ready to become a player in the trenches.

He did not see much playing time in the final stretch and grind of the baseball season, including the magical Omaha run in June, and was with the football team as much as possible. That could be beneficial after not fully participating in spring drills. Malone could be the x-factor of the tackle position if August goes well for him.

LINEBACKER

Ashanti Cistrunk (OR)
Troy Brown
Khari Coleman
Austin Keys
Reginald Hughes
Demon Clowney

Heading into the spring this was the one position of worry for Kiffin and it continued that way throughout those practices.

Injuries was a key reason why there was a slight worry as the linebacker group had several holes needing filling but Kiffin could not see them all at full strength. Brown was injured at times in the spring and Keys did not participate at all due to a knee injury.

Cistrunk is a returning starter from last year and the most experienced returner in the group. Brown could, and should, share starting time with Cistrunk.

A transfer from TCU along with running back Zach Evans, Coleman is looked at to be a key part of the linebacker group.

A Northeast Mississippi Community College transfer, Hughes impressed during his first spring at Ole Miss. The junior finished with five tackles in the Grove Bowl and turned heads. Look for Hughes to be a player and possible slotted higher than he is here come Sept.

This is the season that Clowney must also show what Ole Miss saw in the four-star prospect. Clowney played at linebacker in the JOKER position but also saw time on the defensive end spot during spring. Will be interesting to see where he stays mostly in fall camp or if he becomes a utility player on defense.

While not listed, sophomore Southern California transfer Danny Lockhart II could be one to keep an eye on during fall camp.

CORNERBACK

Deantre Prince
Miles Battle
Davison Igbinosun
Kyndrich Breedlove
Markevious Brown

The cornerback group is one that has veteran experience at the top and then some unknowns in the middle at bottom.

Prince and Battle are the leaders and starters on the group. Both have experience from last season and Prince is in the midst of a second run with Ole Miss and becoming a vocal leader.

Battle has taken to his permanent move to defense after coming to Ole Miss as a receiver and going back and forth at times.

Freshman Igbinosun has jumped off the page since he arrived in January as an early enrollee. The New Jersey native impressed during the spring and has continued to become a young leader along with Prince and Battle.

Breedlove and Brown are solid young players who have the opportunity to shuffle the deck in August if they continue to improve their games as expected.

SAFETY

A.J. Finley
Ladarius Tennison
Isheem Young
Otis Reese
Derek Bermudez
M.J. Daniels

The safety position is another full cupboard but only listing the top players who could be listed in a fall camp depth chart.

Finley and Reese return as now veteran leaders of the group while Tennison comes in from Auburn and looks to be slotting in as a starter with the aforementioned two. That trio has high expectations and will be the ones to anchor the production.

Young, who transferred in from Iowa State, never saw the field in the spring as he suffered a fractured jaw. August will be key for Young to try and make up for lost reps a few months ago but the expectations are still high.

Bermudez and Daniels are young but could be valuable players off the bench to allow rest for Finley, Tennison and Reese.