Daniels: Rebels Two Deep Against Georgia Southern

Photo by Randall Hayley

Quarterback

1. Chad Kelly

2. Jason Pellerin

Note: Jason Pellerin got a little playing time against Auburn last week when the Rebels got near the goal line. Expect to see the same scenarios as the Memphis game with drives starting with Kelly and occasionally the last five or six plays going to Pellerin. I do love the way that we played on offense, going at about 67% plays being passes with Kelly going 36/59 for 465 yards.

Running Back

1. Akeem Judd

2. Eugene Brazley

Note: For the third straight game, Chad Kelly was the leading rusher for the Rebels but both of these backs have been very productive lately, especially Brazley. I believe Brazley will have a 100+ yard day against the Eagles.

Wide Receiver

1. Damore’ea Stringfellow

2. A.J. Brown

Note: Damore’ea Stringfellow caught three passes for 40 yards and caught his 8th career TD catch. A.J. Brown had three catches for 48 yards in about four plays towards the end of the game. These two should get involved early this weekend.

Wide Receiver

1. Quincy Adeboyejo

2. DaMarkus Lodge

Note: DaMarkus Lodge was targeted a good bit by Kelly and Lodge ended up having a nice game with three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. He is yet another good receiver for the Rebels if he can bring that same contribution week in and week out.

Slot Receiver

1. Van Jefferson

2. Markell Pack

Note: Van Jefferson has sort of been the go-to-guy for Kelly in the passing game and he could have a big game when the Rebels offense gets going early against a defense that allows 212.6 yards through the air.

Tight End

1. Evan Engram

2. Taz Zettergren

Note: Evan Engram broke a few records last time out as his touchdown catch gave him the school record for touchdown catches by a tight end with 13. Engram also has 2,094 yards in his career which makes him the eighth player in school history to reach 2,000. He passed Grant Heard to number six in the total ranks in receiving yards.

Left Tackle

1. Greg Little

2. Talbot Buys

Note: With the injury to Rod Taylor, Greg Little got his first start last weekend against Auburn. Little will get the start again with Talbot Buys as the backup at left tackle. Buys saw action in eight games last season.

Left Guard

1. Javon Patterson

2. Tyler Putman

Note: Hugh Freeze has praised Javon Patterson during the season and he is looking like he will have to play as the leader of the offensive line along with Sean Rawlings because of the injuries that have piled up.

Center

1. Sean Rawlings

2. Jacob Feeley 

Note: Robert Conyers did not start last weekend. Instead, it was Sean Rawlings and he will get the start again with Jacob Feeley as his backup.

Right Guard

1. Daronte Bouldin

2. Chandler Tuitt

Note: Another first time starter last weekend, Daronte Bouldin will get another start with Jordan Sims a little beaten up. Sims will try to rest up this week in order to get back at it against Texas A&M.

Right Tackle

1. Alex Givens

2. Michael Howard

Note: Alex Givens got his first start of the season last weekend with Sean Rawlings sliding over to play center. Michael Howard, who has seen action on the goal line, will be the backup.

Defensive End

1. John Youngblood

2. Fadol Brown

Note: John Youngblood will be back out there for another start but Fadol Brown has been a big key to the Rebel defense since coming off his injury at the beginning of the season. Brown had five tackles and a sack against Auburn.

Defensive Tackle

1. Breeland Speaks

2. Benito Jones

Note: Breeland Speaks was held out of the game last weekend due to a punishment, but I believe he will be back out there but we should still see a lot of Benito Jones against the option-attack offense.

Nose Tackle

1. D.J. Jones

2. Isaac Gross

Note: These two got the starts last weekend at defensive tackle and nose tackle but I think Isaac Gross will file back into that backup role with Speaks getting the start again.

Defensive End

1. Marquis Haynes

2. Victor Evans

Note: Marquis Haynes rattled Sean White last weekend as he finished the game with five tackles, one for a loss, one pass deflection, and a quarterback hurry. Against a run heavy offense, I think he could have big success containing the running game.

Outside Linebacker

1. DeMarquis Gates

2. Tayler Polk

Note: Tayler Polk started for the Rebels last weekend but it was DeMarquis Gates would led the Landshark defense in tackles with a total of nine. I like Gates to get the start here and expect to see Polk and Ray Ray Smith getting snaps in at outside linebacker.

Middle Linebacker

1. Willie Hibbler

2. Detric Bing-Dukes

Note: Willie Hibbler got his first start of his career last weekend as he totaled for three tackles. Expect to see nothing different as he and Detric Bing-Dukes should be the top two middle linebackers with a struggling Rommel Mageo.

Nickel

1. Tony Conner

2. A.J. Moore

Note: Tony Conner had one of his bigger games in his career last time out as he had five tackles. Expect to see him at the nickel position guessing run a lot to keep the box stacked up against Georgia Southern.

Cornerback

1. Tony Bridges

2. Jaylon Jones

Note: Tony Bridges should not have to play a ton of man coverage this week because of the opposing offensive scheme but I think our secondary could come away with a turnover on one of the few passing occasions for the Eagles.

Cornerback

1. Jalen Julius

2. Carlos Davis

Note: Jalen Julius has really stepped up this year ever since Ken Webster went down with the leg injury. Julius will continue to start with Carlos Davis backing him up.

Free Safety

1. Zedrick Woods

2. C.J. Hampton

Note: Zedrick Woods has laid down hard hits all season long for the Rebels and expect more of the same this week with him possibly blitzing on occasion.

Rover

1. Myles Hartsfield

2. Deontay Anderson

Note: Myles Hartsfield has had some issues in the secondary this season but he is still just a freshman and we should see big growth begin to happen as we get towards the end of the season.

Kicker

1. Gary Wunderlich

2. Nathan Noble

Note: Gary Wunderlich split the uprights on a 49 yard field goal attempt and went 3/3 on the night on field goal attempts. If we have a kicking situation inside the 40 yard line, I would expect Hugh Freeze to try it to see Wunderlich’s range.

Punter

1. Will Gleeson

2. Gary Wunderlich

Note: Both of these punters got a punt each with Gleeson’s going 38 yards and Wunderlich’s going 49 yards, downed inside the 20. Gleeson will still be the guy since we’ve seen that he can down the rugby kicks off either foot and can also boot the traditional punts.

Kickoff Specialist

1. Nathan Noble

2. Gary Wunderlich

Note: Nathan Noble was busy week kicking it off seven times with five touchbacks. Noble should be busy once again this week and he will have no problem booting it into the back of the end zone.

Grant Daniels, a student at Oxford High School, is a sports correspondent for HottyToddy.com. Email him at hottytoddynews@gmail.com

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