SPORTS

Five Rebels primed for breakout seasons in 2015

Riley Blevins
The Clarion-Ledger

OXFORD – With potentially four first-round picks in next year's NFL draft and five preseason All-Americans on roster, Ole Miss' stars are easy enough to spot.

But which players will emerge as stars in 2015?

Here's a look at five Ole Miss players primed for breakout seasons.

Marquis Haynes

Haynes' strength has always been his speed.

As a freshman last fall, the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder established himself as a scary-quick pass rush specialist – blowing by offensive tackles with his fast first step, spin moves and sharp cuts.

This season, he may be adding power to his repertoire of moves.

"His upper body and lower body have gotten stronger," Freeze said in spring. "He's always had the speed. Now he can convert the speed into power."

Haynes started in just four games last season, but that number will probably go up this fall as he continues to develop into an every-down defensive lineman.

He played in all 13 games in his rookie season, recording 31 tackles and a team-best 7.5 sacks.

Derrick Jones

The cornerback turned wide receiver turned cornerback once more finally settled at a position this spring – back at wide receiver, where Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze tabbed the 6-foot-2, 190-pounder as "the biggest surprise of spring."

Yes, Ole Miss is fairly loaded at the wideout position. But Jones, who caught five passes for 55 yards and a touchdown last season, could still wiggle his way into some serious playing time if he continues to impress this fall.

Helping Jones' cause is the fact that Washington transfer Damore'ea Stringfellow had what Freeze called an inconsistent camp, as he struggled with drops and route running. Jones' biggest competition for playing time this season could be former top 100 recruits Van Jefferson and DaMarkus Lodge, who reported just a few weeks ago.

Fadol Brown

Brown finished top 10 on the team in tackles last season.

He could climb into top five territory this year.

The Rebels are perhaps deeper and more talented than ever at the interior defensive line spots, with Robert Nkemdiche, D.J. Jones, Issac Gross, Woodrow Hamilton and more all in the rotation. Haynes, Ole Miss' other end, also continues to develop.

Because of it all, Brown may find himself in several one-on-one situations this season, which could cause opposing offensive lines some problems.

Ole Miss offensive tackle Jeremy Liggins called Brown the hardest defensive lineman to block this spring.

Freeze dubbed Brown the most improved defensive lineman of spring.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pound defensive end played in all 13 games last season and recorded 38 tackles.

Rod Taylor

Taylor is probably the player the Rebels most need to "step up" this season – and, yes, that includes the quarterbacks.

The offensive line has been an eye sore for Ole Miss the last few season. The Rebels have finished in the bottom-five in the SEC in sacks allowed for four years in a row now, including giving up 31 last season.

In order for that to change, Taylor probably needs to emerge as the starting right guard.

Imagine this: An improved Taylor and former five-star recruit Javon Patterson at the guard spots, Laremy Tunsil (depending on how recent legal issues shape out) and an older Fahn Cooper at tackles, and perhaps Ben Still or Robert Conyers at center. That doesn't sound like a group that will rank near the bottom of the conference in sacks allowed.

Taylor, now a sophomore, showed some flashes late last year. He got thrown into action when Aaron Morris went down with a knee injury against Auburn. Taylor finished that game at right guard, then made his first career start the next week against Presbyterian.

During that stretch, Taylor graded out the highest of any Ole Miss lineman.

Denzel Nkemdiche

It may be difficult to tab a two-time All-SEC linebacker as "primed to have a breakout season," but Nkemdiche is more important than ever to Ole Miss as he enters his senior year.

And he could have his biggest season yet as a result.

There will be no more snap-sharing for Nkemdiche this fall. He's the guy now.

Ole Miss only loses four starters on defense from last year's team, but that includes two linebackers in Deterrian Shackelford and Serderius Bryant, who Nkemdiche split time with until he broke his ankle half-way through the season.

Before that injury, Nkemdiche had 28 tackle, including 3.5 for a loss, one sack and three quarterback hurries in seven games.

Ole Miss is still trying to find its middle linebacker, with former defensive end C.J. Johnson most likely to see the majority of those reps.

With question marks at middle linebacker, with a defensive line that will command lots of attention, with past legal issues now behind him, and with potentially a fully healthy season ahead, Nkemdiche could be in for big things in 2015.

Contact Riley Blevins at rblevins@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @Riley_Blevins on Twitter.