The Ole Miss defense took a huge leap during the 2024 season. A unit that has typically been mediocre at best suddenly became one of the country’s best defenses. However, there are a ton of questions surrounding that side of the ball moving forward for the Rebels. The biggest of which is whether the Ole Miss defense can find a way to have repeat success next season, or whether they take a step back and look more like what we’ve grown accustomed to seeing in past years.
The Ole Miss Defense Is Facing a Huge Rebuild In 2025
How Good Was the Rebel Defense In 2024?
There are plenty of ways to determine or measure success, especially when discussing defenses. But regardless of metric, the Rebel defense had plenty of success in 2024.
In terms of total defense, they came in at 14th in the nation, allowing 311 total yards per game. Looking at the scoring defense, they finished second in the country, only behind the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes. For the season, the Rebels held their opponents to a touch over 14 points per game.
If you wanted to get more specific, the Ole Miss rushing defense also finished second nationally, giving up 80.5 yards per game on the ground. Sticking with the front seven, the Rebels led the nation in tackles for loss per game (9.2) and sacks per game (4.0). Needless to say, there’s a reason they found themselves in every game, even when the offense struggled. It’s because the defense nearly always held up its end of the bargain. The proof of this is in the team’s three losses, which came by a combined 13 points.
But they now find themselves losing a ton of production on the defensive side of the ball. And many are unsure about the pieces being brought in to replace that production.
Departures From the Front Seven
The front seven is the biggest area of focus in terms of what they will be losing to the 2025 NFL Draft. Early indications are that Walter Nolen is a probable first-round pick. Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey are both likely mid-second to early third-round selections, depending on where you look. All three are looking to continue to boost their draft stock at this weekend’s Senior Bowl.
Another Rebel defensive lineman who has his sights set on the NFL Draft is JJ Pegues. After a solid three-year career in Oxford, he’s trying to make a name for himself in NFL circles. and seemed to do a good job of it at this year’s East-West Shrine Bowl. Among his highlights from the Shrine Bowl was a one-handed interception he managed to bring in while still engaged with an offensive lineman.
Moving away from the line, the Rebels are also losing Chris “Pooh” Paul, a linebacker who only spent one season in Oxford after transferring from Arkansas. Despite his short stint, he quickly became a fan favorite for many Ole Miss supporters. In one season as a Rebel, he finished with 50 solo tackles, including 11 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. It proved to be a season that created enough buzz around him that he decided to forego one final year of eligibility in order to enter the draft.
Ole Miss Secondary Losing Key Pieces, As Well
While the front seven is taking the brunt of the lost production, the Ole Miss secondary is also losing a few key players, as well. The primary loss is Trey Amos, the one-year starting cornerback in Oxford after transferring from Alabama. In his one season at Ole Miss, Amos finished with 50 total tackles (38 solo) and three interceptions. He’s now projected as a mid-round pick in this year’s draft.
The other big loss for the secondary is Jadon Canady. After transferring in from Tulane, he proved to be a big part of the defense this season, his second as a Rebel. In total, he was credited with 38 tackles (21 solo) and 11 passes defended. However, shortly after the season, he decided to enter the transfer portal. While he hasn’t named a new destination, it doesn’t currently appear that he’s expected back in Oxford. If something were to change, the retaining of Canady would be a huge pickup for Lane Kiffin and Pete Golding next season.
Can They Repeat This Season’s Success in 2025?
All of these losses on the defensive side of the ball simply mean that Ole Miss is facing a major rebuild for next season. The defensive line is going to have to be almost completely overhauled. They’re also going to have to find a way to fill a few important holes in the secondary.
The good news for Rebel fans is that Kiffin has put together a string of solid recruiting classes. That includes both through the portal and through the high school ranks. They have also done a good job of filling gaps both on the line, as well as in the secondary. While a lot of the names aren’t quite as high caliber as they were last year, there’s still plenty of talent for the Ole Miss defense as we look ahead to the 2025 season.
If the newcomers can adapt to a new system with ease, the Ole Miss defense could easily stay in the top half of defense in college football next year. If they seem to struggle at all, there’s a good chance the unit takes a huge step back.
Main Photo: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The post The Ole Miss Defense Is Facing a Huge Rebuild In 2025 appeared first on Last Word on College Football.