Notes: Webster, Swinney recovering from severe injuries

HOOVER | It’s been a productive few days from an injury standpoint for Ole Miss.

Cornerback Ken Webster and running back Eric Swinney, who both had season-ending leg injuries in the opening loss to Florida State last year, have been cleared for workouts. Also, offensive lineman Javon Patterson has been cleared for competition following a shoulder injury.

Webster, is listed as a potential starter on the pre-fall depth chart, and Patterson is listed as the starter at left guard. Swinney, who tore his ACL on his first collegiate carry, isn’t on the depth chart. Jordan Wilkins is the starter, and Eugene Brazley and D’Vaughn Pennamon are also listed.

[Related: Freeze meets with media before Hoover circuit]

(They are doing) good,” Hugh Freeze said. “They’ve been released to do full workouts. Javon Patterson got released yesterday from his shoulder… Webster is running with a brace and he doesn’t like that. I don’t know at what point he’ll take that off, but he seems to be good.”

Webster started every game at cornerback in 2015 for the Rebels and tied for third on the team with 12 passes defended. He finished the year with 41 tackles, three tackles for loss, 11 pass breakups and one interception.

Linebacker Willie Hibbler has yet to be cleared from a knee injury.

All signees for the 2017 are on campus except for the two who failed to qualify. Freeze said one current player is “finishing up some academic issues” but should be eligible without issue.

Ole Miss has 19 newcomers from the class that finished 39th nationally in the Rivals.com recruiting ranking. Defensive end Chester Graves and athlete JaVonta Payton are the no-shows from the group.

Graves, a four-star prospect from Missouri, was a longshot to be eligible throughout the recruiting process. Payton, a three-star recruit from Tennessee, committed to the Rebels the day before National Signing Day.

Freeze mentioned several defensive back seven candidates to play immediately, specifically naming DD Bowie, Kam White and CJ Miller in the secondary and Josh Clarke and Mohamed Sanogo at linebacker.

“We didn’t have it defensively last year for whatever reason,” Freeze said. “I think (new defensive coordinator Wesley) McGriff has brought a discipline to it and an energy to it. Now we haven’t played a game yet and he hasn’t called a game yet.

“You’re never sure exactly how that’ll go when you’re asking true freshmen to play corner or safety or linebacker, but we need some of that and we need to stay healthy. That’s kind of every year for us and it always will be. We have to continue to build.”

With Ole Miss’ NCAA case likely coming to a close during the season, there’s at least the chance of coach suspensions being among the sanctions. Freeze said no contingency plan has been discussed regarding a potential head coach suspension.

“I just think about what I can do today to help these kids,” Freeze said. “That’s it.”

The NCAA is required to respond to Ole Miss’ response later this month, and a hearing with the NCAA Committee on Infractions is the next step following that response.