Ole Miss Football: Complete 2015 Spring Practice Primer

Is Ole Miss a contender or pretender?

That question will begin to be answered this March, as head coach Hugh Freeze enters his fourth season as the head coach of the Rebels with a perception that hasn't existed in Oxford since the David Cutcliffe era.

Sleeping giant.

Led by a stifling defense and potent passing attack, the Rebels broke through the glass ceiling and became legitimate contenders in 2014, topping then-No. 1 Alabama at home in October and dancing around the top 10 all year.

Do they have staying power, or was last year's success a product of an SEC West that, while talented, didn't have the top-end teams it has become accustomed to? Let's answer that question and get you ready for Ole Miss spring practice in this primer.

What to Watch for on Offense

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The most visible question facing the Rebels this spring is at quarterback, where sophomores DeVante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan were joined by junior college transfer and former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly in January, creating a three-horse race for the top spot on the depth chart.

Kincade and Kelly both have the dual-threat capabilities that Freeze needs within the offense, but Buchanan has the ability to push the ball from sideline to sideline and deep downfield, which could be a benefit to this particular Ole Miss offense, which is loaded with wide receivers.

Experience should win out, and while he's the newcomer, Kelly is the one who has the experience.

Sure, Kelly has a litany of off-field issues that could (and likely should) keep the coaching staff awake at night, but according to Freeze, via Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, he is on a short leash.

Kelly played a backup role at Clemson two years ago and won a national championship last season at East Mississippi Community College, passing for 3,906 yards, 47 touchdowns and eight picks while adding 446 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, according to his Ole Miss bio. What's more, EMCC runs the same system as Freeze and was the same system Wallace came from before he moved to Oxford.

Aside from the quarterbacks, it will be interesting to see which wide receivers step up to complement Laquon Treadwell—who will still be limited following last season's gruesome leg injury suffered against Auburn. Cody Core and Quincy Adeboyejo each played well last season, but the presence of former Washington wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow could be what kicks the battle for playing time up a notch.

Player	Pos.	Rec.	Yds.	YPG	TDs
Vince Sanders	WR	39	696	17.85	6
Evan Engram	TE	38	662	17.42	2
Laquon Treadwell	WR	48	632	13.17	5
Cody Core	WR	41	558	13.61	6
Quincy Adeboyejo	WR	26	313	12.04	2
Jaylen Walton	RB	19	206	10.84	2

At running back, Jaylen Walton is a known commodity off the edge, while in limited carries last year Jordan Wilkins looked like he could provide the between-the-tackles running threat that Freeze has been searching for over the last two seasons. 

From an offensive line standpoint, it should be all about developing depth. All five starters return, but left tackle Laremy Tunsil and left guard Aaron Morris will miss spring practice recovering from injuries, so finding suitable backups now will benefit the Rebels immensely during the fall if the injury bug bites them again.

What to Watch for on Defense

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Up front, the Rebels are set with defensive tackles Robert Nkemdiche and Isaac Gross, as well as veteran defensive end C.J. Johnson (who could also bounce around to linebacker at times) anchoring a defensive line that is eight deep and loaded with talent. 

The biggest question is in the secondary, where safety Cody Prewitt and corner Senquez Golson have moved on, leaving a gaping hole in what was the strongest unit of the stout Ole Miss defense.

The good news for Rebel fans is that while the holes are big, the players filling them in have big shovels. C.J. Hampton is a fantastic option at safety, and will complement "Huskie" Tony Conner very well. Mike Hilton played well over the last couple of years, especially last season, when he finished with a team-high 71 tackles and picked off three passes. He can bounce between corner and safety, which will give the defensive staff plenty of flexibility when trying to find the best four or five defensive backs.

Ole Miss' main goal this spring from a defensive standpoint is to stay healthy and establish some quality depth, because that could come in handy once the grind of the season hits in mid-to-late October.

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Freshman to Keep an Eye on

Offensive guard Javon Patterson.

With Morris recovering from a knee injury, Patterson—a 4-star early enrollee from Petal, Mississippi—could push for immediate playing time this spring. The 6'3", 313-pounder has great feet for an interior lineman and the strength of a seasoned veteran and could be a huge asset up front as Ole Miss hopes to jumpstart the running game.

Will Patterson win a starting job this spring? No; that decision won't come until fall camp.

But he is certainly capable of pushing incumbents and vaulting himself into the conversation, which is a great place to be for an early enrollee heading into summer "optional" workouts.

Coach Freeze's Toughest Task

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The running game.

While the quarterback battle will dominate headlines, Freeze's quest to revitalize the running game will be what determines whether this Ole Miss team is either a contender or pretender in 2015. If one running back steps up or a combination of Wilkins, sophomore Eugene Brazley (5'9", 188 pounds) and redshirt junior Akeem Judd (6'0", 220 pounds) get things cranked up, the Ole Miss offense will be tough to beat.

Imagine what a complete running game will do. It will help Walton do his damage outside (and limit his hits) and bring safeties up in the box, which will leave the quarterbacks with wide-open passing lanes to find talented receivers.

Ole Miss needs to run to set up the pass, not the other way around, and the journey to find a way to do that begins in March.

Barrett Sallee is the lead SEC college football writer and college football video analyst for Bleacher Report, as well as a host on Bleacher Report Radio on Sirius 93, XM 208.

Quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. All stats are courtesy of CFBStats.com unless otherwise noted, and all recruiting information is courtesy of 247Sports' composite rankings. Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.