Forecasting the Ole Miss offense depth chart a week out from fall camp

Last week was the start of the unofficial ‘Talking Season’ as the SEC Football Media Days were held in Atlanta. Next week is the officially start to the 2022 college football season when Ole Miss opens up fall camp.

When camp kicks off it will be just under five weeks before Ole Miss hosts Troy in the season opener on Sept. 3. There are plenty of questions to be asked of this Ole Miss team throughout fall camp. One item that will be carefully watched and scrutinized is the depth chart.

Defense looks to be slightly more settled in most areas when it comes to the depth chart — which will be put under the microscope on Tuesday — but the offense has a few more moving pieces.

Lets take a look at what a projected depth chart for the Ole Miss offense looks like a week out from preseason training camp kicking off.

QUARTERBACK

Luke Altmyer (OR)
Jaxson Dart
Kinkead Dent

The quarterback battle to earn the starting job for Ole Miss has been discussed, written about and projected ad nauseum since March. That does not mean it will not continue to be a topic throughout August and maybe even September.

When camp starts next week and based on the sample size from spring practices it would suggest Altmyer will be the one taking reps with the starters. Head coach Lane Kiffin could also weave Dart in and out — since it is a competition after all — but Dart might be with the backups initially.

Dent had a solid performance in April’s Grove Bowl, surpassing the efforts of Dart and looked more like the contending for the starting job with Altmyer. With that said, look for Dent to still be the third man on the chart to begin. He could always force the issue further than he did in April.

RUNNING BACK

Zach Evans
Kentrell Bullock
Ulysses Bentley IV
Quinshon Judkins

Behind the quarterback question mark another looming question for the offense is how will the new-look running back room take shape.

Gone are Jerrion Ealy, Snoop Conner and Henry Parrish, Jr. The first two are now off trying to start their NFL careers while Parrish hit the portal and landed in Miami.

There are returners in Bullock and Isaiah Woullard but Kiffin went into the portal and brought in Evans and Bentley. Evans looks to be the immediate RB1 with Bullock getting a fair shot in camp. Another addition that could be a quick impact is Judkins. The freshman had moments throughout the spring that could carry over to camp next month.

WIDE RECEIVER

Jonathan Mingo (OR)
Jordan Watkins
Jaylon Robinson
Malik Heath
Dannis Jackson

Possibly the one group that is is not completely set in stone is Ole Miss’ receivers room. They have a plethora of options on the roster — many will be redshirted or practice squad — but the cabinet is full of targets for the quarterbacks.

Mingo, just off seasoned and experience, is primed to be the top receiver in the group after Dontario Drummond, Braylon Sanders and Jachour Pearson are gone. Though there could be pressure in transfers Watkins and Robinson.

There was another mid-summer addition to the group with Malik Heath made his officially arrival to Oxford. The former Mississippi State receiver jumped the rival lines and chose to be a Rebel for his final season.

Brandon Buckhaulter, JJ Henry and Jalen Knox could also be key players within the group. Fall camp is going to shuffle the deck greatly.

TIGHT END

Michael Trigg
Casey Kelly
TBD (?)

One group that is not really under a lot of scrutiny or questions is the tight end room. Trigg came over with Dart from Southern California and groomed to be the starter at the position. Kelly could be viewed as more of a 1-B to Trigg. Both are working well together and Kelly helped guide Trigg throughout the spring.

Who the third guy could be on the chart is up for debate. Jonathan Hess could easily be the guy to give Trigg and Kelly a breather for a play or two. Hudson Wolfe was a highly touted prospect but his absence has been noticed heavily. A back injury has sidelined Wolf, but he is still listed on the roster.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Left Tackle:
Jeremy James
Jayden Williams

Left Guard:
Nick Broeker
Cedric Melton

Center:
Caleb Warren
Reece McIntyre

Right Guard:
Eli Acker
Jalen Cunningham

Right Tackle:
Mason Brooks
Micah Pettus

The offensive line is the veteran group of Ole Miss’ offense and will be expected to be the anchor on that side of the ball. Experience is there for the group to have success and their own self-proclaimed goal to be named the best offensive line group in college football in 2022.

Despite the depth there are new faces in new places along the line. Broeker is now inside at left guard, shifting from left tackle in order to get film of him being versatile. James moved to Broeker’s former home at guard in all of the musical chairs.

Warren shifted over to center in the spring and took to the new position gradually throughout. Portal addition Brooks is now monitoring the right tackle spot while Acker looks to improve off a decent year on 2021 at the right guard slot.

Backups in Williams, Melton, McIntyre, Cunningham and Pettus all give reason for optimism after their performances in the spring. The reserves look to be solid heading into fall camp.