Quarterbacks
Jordan Ta'amu (120-187-4, 1,911 yards, 13 TD), an efficient RPO operator and the SEC total offense (337.2 ypg) leader, made his first start vs. Arkansas last year. The 6-2 Hawaiian is No. 5 in passing yards, No. 17 in TD passes and No. 15 in efficiency (168.7) in the FBS. He's also No. 8 in yards per attempt (10.2). The Rebels are No. 5 in passing offense (347.5) and No. 10 in efficiency.
The maturation of Ty Storey (69-126-5, 861 yards, 6 TD) was evident last week against a traditionally powerful defense. He glided in the pocket, kept his eyes up and found receivers. His lack of ball security (3 turnovers) was a negative. The package for 6-7 Cole Kelley (32-58-4, 382 yards, 4 TD) has been mostly productive. The Hogs are No. 88 in passing (212.3) and No. 116 in efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss
Running backs
Junior Scottie Phillips (90-637, 8 TD, 7.1 ypc) has burst onto the SEC scene. The 211-pounder leads the SEC in rushing TDs and total touchdowns. He pounded Texas Tech for 204 yards in the opener. The top backup is Isaiah Woullard (30-146, 2, 4.9 ypc). Ta'amu (36-112, 3) is one of the better running QBs in the nation. Ole Miss ranks No. 49 in rushing offense (193.3).
Rakeem Boyd (45-294, 6.4 ypc) has emerged as a top weapon and is likely a co-No. 1 with Devwah Whaley (53-231, 2 TD, 4.4 ypc), who is expected back from a concussion. Chase Hayden (29-109, 3.8) was valuable in the pass game last week. Maleek Williams (11-92, 1, 8.4) and T.J. Hammonds (10-28) are quality reserves. The Hogs are No. 92 in rushing offense (146.8).
ADVANTAGE None
Receivers/tight ends
Ole Miss has a premier crew, led by 6-1 A.J. Brown (44 catches, 586 yards, 4 TD), 6-4 D.K. Metcalf (25-520, 5) and 6-2 DaMarkus Lodge (25-386, 1). Metcalf averages 20.8 ypc, and Braylon Sanders (9-212, 1) tops that at 23.6. Elijah Moore (11-157, 2) and Dawson Knox (5-101) are also key weapons.
Arkansas' strength at tight end has come more into play lately, with Cheyenne O'Grady (10-125, 2), Austin Cantrell (6-90, 1) and Grayson Gunter (2-21). Deon Stewart (6-60) has joined La'Michael Pettway (15-200, 3), Jordan Jones (11-168, 1) and Mike Woods (9-130, 1) as the Hogs' top deep threats. Jared Cornelius (5-53) and De'Vion Warren (3-14, 1) are tops in the slot.
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss
Line
LT Greg Little (6-6, 325 pounds) is a preseason All-SEC and Outland Trophy candidate who has started 23 games. The other starters are senior C Sean Rawlings, senior LG Javon Patterson, redshirt freshman RG Ben Brown and junior RT Alex Givens. Rawlings (32) and Patterson (36) combine for 68 career starts. Ole Miss is No. 7 in total offense (540.8) and No. 56 in sacks allowed (1.8).
Run blocking and pass protection were stronger for Arkansas, with one sack allowed vs. fearsome Alabama. The quintet of LT Colton Jackson, LG Hjalte Froholdt, C Ty Clary, RG Johnny Gibson and RT Brian Wallace is starting to coalesce. Dalton Wagner and Austin Capps filled in capably last week at RT and LG. Arkansas is No. 102 in total offense (358.2) and No. 86 in sacks allowed (2.5).
ADVANTAGE Ole Miss
DEFENSE
Line
Juniors Benito Jones (12, 2.5 TFL, 4 hurries) and Josiah Coatney (30, 3 TFL, 1 hurry) are 315-pounders inside. Tariqious Tisdale (17, 2 TFL, 2 hurries) and Qaadir Sheppard (20, 6 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 5 hurries) start at end, while Markel Winters (14, 4 sacks) is the top sack man. Backup DT Charles Wiley (9) has 2.5 sacks. The Rebels are No. 104 vs. the run (195.7) and No. 48 in sacks (2.5).
McTelvin Agim (21, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 7 hurries), Armon Watts (19, 4 sacks, 2 hurries) and T.J. Smith (14, 2 TFL, 1 sack) are the unit's top tacklers. DE Randy Ramsey (14, 2.5 TFL, 1 sack) over-ran some plays last week. Gabe Richardson (11, 1.5 TFL), Michael Taylor (9, 1 TFL), Jamario Bell (8, 1 hurry) and Jonathan Marshall (4) rotate. The Hogs are No. 48 vs. the run (134.3) and No. 70 in sacks (2.0).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Linebackers
Ole Miss is young in this group. MLB Mohamed Sanogo (44, 2 TFL, 2 FF) is a sophomore, while ILB Jacquez Jones (22, 1.5 TFL, 1 FF) and OLB Kevontae' Ruggs (15, 1 FR) are freshmen. Sanogo is 8th in the SEC with 7.3 tackles per game. Jones had 9 tackles vs. Alabama. Ole Miss is No. 123 in total defense (503.5) and No. 106 in scoring (35.5).
Junior De'Jon Harris (64, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 4 PBU, 1 FF) is at 10.7 tackles per game, the only SEC player with more than 9.0. Dre Greenlaw (44, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 2 INT) is back in form after missing 2 games. Grant Morgan (18, 2.5 TFL, 1 PBU), Bumper Pool (13, 3 PBU), Hayden Henry (13) and Dee Walker (8) are top reserves. Arkansas is No. 85 in total defense (405.7) and No. 112 in scoring (36.8).
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Secondary
Ravaged by injuries, the Rebels are super thin. Juniors Myles Hartsfield (22, 5 PBU) and Jalen Julius (18, 1.5 TFL, 2 PBU) are the top CBs. Vernon Dasher (13, 1 INT, 2 PBU) is the nickel. Zedrick Woods (37, 1 TFL, 1 INT) made his 1st start at FS last week. SS C.J. Miller (18, 1 FR) is batting an ankle issue. The Rebels are No. 123 vs. the pass (307.8) and No. 99 in efficiency.
Arkansas looked a step slow vs. blazing Bama. Jarques McClellion (13, 3 PBU) has begun to solidify the other CB spot opposite Ryan Pulley (23, 1 sack, 1 INT, 3 PBU). Santos Ramirez (47, 1 FR) and Kamren Curl (29, 4 PBU) play a lot. Kevin Richardson (6, 1 PBU) and Derrick Munson (13, 1 TFL) should get plenty of run today. The Hogs are No. 110 vs. the pass (271.3) and No. 101 in efficiency.
ADVANTAGE Arkansas
Special teams
Ole Miss has almost as many kicking game holes as Arkansas. The Rebels are No. 117 in net punting (32.6), just ahead of Arkansas (31.4), and they're No. 123 in punt returns (1.6 average). Punter Mac Brown averages 40.0. Kicker Luke Logan is 8 of 9 on FGs (long of 40), and half his 46 kickoffs are touchbacks. Jaylon Jones has a 94-yard kickoff return for the No. 44 KOR unit (22.6)
Arkansas did not give up a kick return TD vs. Bama. KOR De'Vion Warren (30.6) had a 78-yarder and the Hogs are No. 33 (23.4 KOR avg.). Reid Bauer (38.2) and Matthew Phillips (40.5) have stabilized the horrid early punting. Connor Limpert (8 of 11 FG, 18 of 18 PAT) was a hero of last year's win. The Hogs lead the SEC with a 19.7 punt return average on 3 returns by Deon Stewart.
ADVANTAGE None
Intangibles
Ole Miss has the hurt of four consecutive losses against Arkansas -- complete with wacky bounces, crazy two-point conversions and stunning comebacks -- to use as motivation. How might a dose of rain, projected by forecasters, affect the skilled Ole Miss passing attack?
Will War Memorial be loaded and loud? The Hogs haven't tasted victory since Sept. 1, so the prospect of running the streak to 5 victories against Ole Miss while snapping their own 5-game losing streak is great. Will the Razorbacks know what to do if they're in position to close out a tight game?
ADVANTAGE None
Sports on 10/13/2018