Posted by Evelyn Van Pelt | Jun 9, 2024 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. — For a number of years now, the Ole Miss football team has fielded a high-flying offense with stars at every position who could help put points up on the board. Now, the Rebels’ defense is poised to enter 2024 with its own playmakers on a roster filled with talented returnees and some outstanding newcomers.
In the upcoming season, the Ole Miss defense not only returns stalwarts on the defensive line in Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues, Pete Golding’s unit has added transfers Walter Nolen (A&M), Princely Umanmielen (Florida), and Chris Hardie (Jacksonville State).
First day of media availability for Ole Miss spring football. Here are some D-line drills from today, the group featured here is as listed:
No. 0 – Joshua Harris
No. 1 – Princely Umanielen
No. 2 – Walter Nolen
No. 4 – Suntarine Perkins
No. 15 – Jared Ivey
No. 95 – Akelo Stone… pic.twitter.com/el60Nlfc9R— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 19, 2024
Last season, Ivey led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) and sacks (5.5), while Pegues finished the season second in those same categories with 8.0 TFLs and 3.5 sacks
That defensive prowess has been recognized by PFF College Football as the Rebels’ defensive line is ranked No. 5 in the nation.
PFF’s Top Ten includes:
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Miami (Fl.)
- Georgia
- Ole Miss
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Texas
- Clemson
- Oregon
Of the Rebels’ defensive front, PFF writes:
Ole Miss finds itself in the top five of this list thanks to two massive additions via the transfer portal. Princely Umanmielen is one of my top-10 edge defenders in the country after an excellent last couple of seasons for Florida. This past season, he was fourth among Power Five edge defenders with a 22.2% pass-rush win rate. Since 2022, Umanmielen’s 42 run-defense stops are tied for second among that same group.
The Rebels also found some help along the interior in Texas A&M’s Walter Nolen. The former No. 1 overall recruit in the 2022 class posted seven sacks in 2023, which was tied for third among SEC interior defensive linemen. He was also third in that same group with eight tackles for loss/no gain. Both Umanmielen and Nolen could be first-round picks next April.
One of the nation’s best
With Ivey and Pegues making the decision to return, and the additions of Nolen, Umanmielen, and a strong incoming freshman class, Pete Golding’s front seven has a chance to be one of the best in the country.
Alongside Ivey and Pegues, Ole Miss is returning key defensive linemen like Josh Harris, Zxavian Harris, and Akelo Stone.
The Rebels also recruited some of the best defensive line talent in the state of Mississippi in the 2024 cycle. Pete Golding must be chomping at the bit as Ole Miss signed five-star defensive end Kam Franklin, who was rated as the No. 1 recruit in the Magnolia state, and also signed four-stars Kamron Beavers, Jeffrey Rush, and William Echoles.
Ivey says the players who have experience in Pete Golding’s scheme also have an important leadership role to participate in over the coming months.
“Obviously, we have guys who understand our scheme, and then we are bringing in new guys, so they are picking up quick. It’s not just the coach’s voice, other guys and leaders can step up, answer questions, and lead them away from mistakes that they made when we first started learning this stuff.”
Ole Miss DL Jared Ivey
Looking ahead, we are 83 days away from opening kickoff, but regardless, Ivey says that Coach Golding hasn’t wasted any time preaching what type of defense he wants his guys to become.
“The most fast, physical, and smart team we could possibly be. Those three words are the main words that PG (Pete Golding) is preaching right now, and that’s the mindset that we take into every day.”
Jared Ivey on what the defense is striving to be
Next Up
Your first chance to see the defensive line comes August 31 as Ole Miss kicks off at Vaught-Hemingway against Furman. Game is set for a 6:00 p.m. (CT) start.
Hotty Toddy!
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn’s love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
