The Flagship: Spring has sprung in college athletics and everything’s coming up Ole Miss
In this edition of The Flagship, powered by RiverLand Roofing, Ben Garrett and Chuck Rounsaville of the Ole Miss Spirit/On3 (OMSpirit.com) reminisce on one of the most memorable nights in Pavilion history.
Rebel basketball, on Tuesday, took down rival Mississippi State, 86-82, to secure the best start (18-3) in program history. It’s been a remarkable turnaround under first-year head coach Chris Beard, who’s trying to make Ole Miss the fourth separate program he’s led to the NCAA Tournament since 2016.
The Rebels have danced all of nine times in their 100-plus-year history. Their last trip was in 2018-19.
“I want to see this basketball team get to the tournament and make some noise and see how they recruit off of that,” Rounsaville said, in discussing the top Ole Miss spring storylines on the podcast. “I’m excited about the baseball team; I know they’re itching to make up for that catastrophe from last year.
“And then spring football is right here. I want to see where these new guys fit in. I want to see how good (Michigan CB) Amorian Walker is and how good (Arkansas LB) ’Pooh’ Paul is and (Texas A&M DT) Walter Nolen and the two Washington offensive linemen (Nate Kalepo and Julius Buelow) and the tight end from Virginia Tech (Dae’Quan Wright) and (South Carolina WR) Juice Wells and on and on and on.
“I’m excited about that.”
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Ole Miss football has entered the strength and conditioning phase of its off-season.
However, Lane Kiffin’s Rebels, who are coming off the program’s first 11-win season, open spring practices in a few months. The add-on practices could take on more significance this season after Ole Miss added 17 transfers during the first portal wave in the winter.
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Nolen was the No. 2 overall player, according to On3. Paul was the top linebacker. Florida’s Princely Umanmielien was the sixth overall transfer and the top-ranked EDGE.
“All the portal guys are here and checked in and going to school,” Rounsaville said. “Got their apartments and signed their leases (and) going to start getting their NIL money.”
Recruiting is in a dead period. The second of two high-school signing days is next week.
“I don’t think they’re going to sign anybody,” Rounsaville said. Sign up today for a subscription to the Ole Miss Spirit for just $1. “Now, I was talking to somebody (Tuesday) that said there’s the possibility of one kid, but even said that was a long shot. I’m not looking for them to sign a soul.”
Ole Miss will continue to almost exclusively focus its recruiting efforts on the portal.
“I think EDGE, running back and maybe corner, depending on how spring practice goes,” Rounsaville said of further roster needs. “Other than that, I think Ole Miss is in pretty good shape. I wouldn’t mind seeing them add a punter. They’re appealing for (starting punter Fraser Masin) to have another year. I don’t know if that appeal is going to come to fruition or not, but they are trying to get him eligible for another year.”
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