Over the next two weeks leading up to the initial game week, RebelGrove.com is creating quick-hit looks for fans to get to know each of Ole Miss' opponents for the 2017 season.
For the fourth consecutive year we're not going chronologically but rather in ascending order of difficulty. The Rebels' last nonconference opponent, ULL, is up second on our list. The teams last played in 2014, a 56-15 Ole Miss victory.
GETTING TO KNOW ULL
When and where: Nov. 11 at TBA Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (Oxford, Miss.)
Coach: Mark Hudspeth (Delta State), 7th year
2016 record: 6-7 (5-3 Sun Belt)
2015 record: 4-8 (3-5)
Record vs. Power-5 schools since 2010: 0-10
Average score vs. Power-5 schools: 46 (opponents) - 21 (ULL)
Road record vs. Power-5 schools since 2010: 0-9
Road record vs. SEC schools since 2013: 0-4
A LOOK AT THE OFFENSE
Returning starters: 5
Jordan Davis is in line to take over the ULL offense this season after being relegated a year ago by LSU transfer Anthony Jennings who continued to struggle with accuracy in the passing game. Led by new offensive coordinator and Mississippi native Will Hall, ULL has to replace running back Elijah McGuire, who ran for more than 1,100 yards last season.
There are three main candidates -- Darius Hoggins, Jordan Wright and Raymond Calais -- to take over, but the best part of the run game may be running behind four returning starters on the offensive line. Also quarterback Dion Ray could be a change-of-pace runner at the position.
Hoggins broke his jaw because of walking while looking at his cell phone and may miss action this season.
Madison, Mississippi, product Keenan Barnes scored six touchdowns as a receiver last season and is the top pass catcher returning. Al Riles, who had 60 catches for 729 yards last season, gone, leaving Barnes and Ja'Marcus Bradley as the only receivers with half as many yards as Riles.
Placekicker Stevie Artigue was 19-of-24 with a long of 49 yards.
Reason for Ole Miss to worry: There aren't scary pieces that pop out with this unit, but Hall is an intriguing coordinator, and timing could be an issue. This is after the NCAA ruling, so I wonder if there are distractions if the sanctions are worse than expected.
Reason for Ole Miss to rest easy: ULL having to replace Jennings, McGuire and Riles makes for a milquetoast group of returners. Barnes could have easily ended up on an SEC roster, and the linemen are back, but if Ole Miss struggles here then there are bigger problems on the schedule.
A LOOK AT THE DEFENSE
Returning starters: 6
The top two defenders are gone, as ULL has to replace linebackers Otha Peters and Tre'maine Lightfoot, who accounted for 94 and 101 tackles, respectively.
There are three starters on the defensive line back including end Joe Dillon, who had 13.5 tackles for loss in 2016, and defensive tackle Taboris Lee, who had 39 tackles last year and has started 26 straight games.
Senior safeties Travis Crawford and Tracy Walker return to make that a veteran group Cornerback is a hodgepodge with one starter gone from last year and another (Simeon Thomas) dealing with academic issues for the third time in four seasons.
Former safety Damar'ren Mitchell is also a possibility there.
Justin Middleton participated in a scrimmage this past weekend after signing in recent days. He may factor in at linebacker.
Reason for Ole Miss to worry: The Cajuns were an average defensive team last season and have a lot of questions. The safeties and Dillon at end are the players to watch, but inadequacies elsewhere will make it difficult against better offenses.
Reason for Ole Miss to rest easy: ULL has had two straight losing seasons and any reversal will be because of offensive firepower. Peters and Lightfoot are huge losses, and the lack of quality corners is a terrible problem against Ole Miss receivers.
