For the Rebel Nation, it hurts to think about 2011. It was a dark, depressing time. Some say things were as bad as they had ever been. The Rebels crawled to a 2-10 record, losing their final seven games by a combined score of 262 to 80.
The 2015 Rebels will suit up three young men who played as true freshmen in 2011.
C.J. Johnson, Aaron Morris and Collins Moore are the only three remaining players that actually played in the 2011 season. There are a handful of others that were redshirted that season from the signing class that featured stars like Donte Moncrief, Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt.
What a welcome to college football it must have been for those guys.
C.J. Johnson arrived in Oxford by way of Philadelphia, Mississippi, after being caught up in a long and nasty recruiting battle with Mississippi State before inking with the Rebels. He would find his way into a starting role late in the season after a position change moved him from linebacker to defensive end.
Aaron Morris found his way to Oxford from the state capitol and made a big impression early. He would start nearly the entire season at guard. No matter how bad the depth is on a football team, it is extremely difficult for a true freshman to start on the offensive line in the SEC, but Morris did.
Collins Moore came to the Rebels from Madison, Alabama. He would see action at a crowded wide receiver position that also featured Moncrief, Ja-Mes Logan and Nick Brassell.
Each of these players would go on to suffer a season ending injury at some point in their career. They would each be granted a medical redshirt allowing them to still be here for the 2015 season.
These young men have now been a part of three winning seasons, three bowl games, ESPN’s College Game Day, national rankings and recognition and much more. But what needs not be forgotten, is that they were there in 2011.
They were there on the field playing the game they love for the team they love late in the fourth quarter in a 27-7 home loss to Louisiana Tech while only a few hundred fans remained in the stands. They were there in the 52-7 home loss to Alabama and another 52-3 loss to LSU. They were there when it was announced that the coach that they signed on to play for was shown the door and a new one was hired.
They could have left, no one would have thought less of them, but they stayed. They pushed forward. They climbed on board with Hugh Freeze and helped lead the Rebels out of the wilderness. They fought for seven wins in 2012, eight in 2013 and then nine in 2014. They have seen it all and they will push for an even better 2015.
Slap a ‘C’ on their chest and call them Captain. They have earned it.
Webb Lewis of Southern Elite Sports Media is a HottyToddy.com contributor and can be reached at sesmississippi@gmail.com.
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