‘We’ve definitely started looking up front’: Beleaguered Ole Miss OL poised for shakeup
The Ole Miss offensive line appears poised for a shakeup after the off-week.
The Rebels (5-2, 1-2 SEC) are on a bye and licking their wounds after a devastating loss at LSU. Third-year quarterback Jaxson Dart was sacked the most times in his career (6). The Rebels’ efficiency suffered as a result.
Washington transfer Nate Kalepo had to leave the game with an injury. However, he still graded out as the only Rebel lineman with a pass-blocking grade in the 70s. Julius Buelow, who transferred in with Kalepo, had a ghastly 40.9. Now-first-team left tackle Diego Pounds and center Reece McIntyre finished in the 50s.
Caleb Warren is a multi-year starter for the Rebels at center. However, he was moved to guard in the off-season. He’s also dealt with injuries dating back to spring practices. Warren, encouragingly, received his largest snap share of the season at LSU. His grade — and that of starting right tackle Micah Pettus — was in the 60s.
“Everything can be worked on and improved,” fifth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said Monday. “We look at all things in the bye. We’ve definitely started looking up front.
“Some of that is injury-based, too. We’ve had two returning starters who have been out a few weeks. That’s certainly not allowed us to make moves that we otherwise may have made. I think there will be some changes there.”
Jeremy James is another long-time starter. He’s been on the shelf with a hand injury and could be weeks out from returning.
Jayden Williams is working his way back from a knee injury suffered prior to South Carolina. Williams was a late scratch.
“I think (the off-week) comes at a good time from a physical standpoint,” Kiffin said. “Obviously, I’d like to win going into byes for the feeling of it. But now we’ve played a couple of weeks without the starting left tackle (Williams) and we’ve played without Princely (Umanmielen), who I certainly think would’ve made a difference in a 50-pass game. He’s an elite pass-rusher.
“Jeremy James, with 50 starts, has been out. I definitely think it’s coming at a good time. We look to get all three of those guys back.”
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Umanmielen is an off-season addition from Florida signed in an Ole Miss transfer class ranked No. 3 in the country by On3.
Key Lawrence (safety, Oklahoma) was another. However, Lawrence announced Monday he has decided to preserve his redshirt. He won’t play for the Rebels the rest of the season and intends to play elsewhere for his final college season in 2025-26.
“We have have a chance to get better in a bye week, get healthy, improve on some things and go win the rest of them,” Kiffin said.
Kiffin was joined Monday by players Ulysses Bentley, IV, JJ Pegues and Cayden Lee. The included videos were provided by Ole Miss Sports Production.
