Laquon Treadwell Doing Backflips Excites Fans, Makes Hugh Freeze 'Cringe'

DESTIN, Fla. — Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell has become one of the most discussed players of the college football offseason.

When Ole Miss was at its best and dancing in and around the top four of the College Football Playoff in late October and early November, Treadwell was the centerpiece of the high-octane Rebel offense. He had 48 catches for 632 yards and five touchdowns and appeared to be headed for a sixth score—a potential game-winner in the closing seconds of the Auburn game.

But he was tackled just short of the goal line and suffered a gruesome broken leg that ended his season, drastically changing the offense for the final month of the season.

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According to head coach Hugh Freeze, Treadwell is now a full go.

"He desires to get back and better than he was, so it's a bit hard to keep him patient," Freeze said at SEC spring meetings at the Sandestin Hilton on Tuesday. "It's time to turn him loose though.

"We could have let him do some things in spring besides the routes against air, but we didn't and he's ready to go, run, jump and catch balls so that he has his confidence come fall camp."

It appears he's already got plenty of confidence, though.

Treadwell has posted a series of Instagram videos detailing just how confident he is.

How did that sit with his head coach?

"He looks like he's pretty good to me," Freeze said. "He's doing backflips on trampolines, and that made me cringe a little bit."

That's only a temporary feeling for Freeze, though.

With Treadwell at 100 percent, the entire Rebel offense can open up. He established himself as one of the top possession receivers in the country as a freshman in 2013, when he caught 72 passes for 608 yards. After adding deep-threat responsibilities to his arsenal, he appeared to be well on his way to an All-American season before that broken leg ended his season.

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His return will boost a Rebel passing attack that could use its centerpiece back.

With Ryan Buchanan, Chad Kelly and DeVante Kincade all competing for the open quarterback job, an established go-to target will provide a solid foundation for Freeze as he adjusts to his new quarterback and attempts to establish a between-the-tackles running game.

On top of Treadwell's presence dictating the way opposing defensive coordinators approach the Rebels, his supporting cast will excite fans and terrify opposing defensive coordinators even more.

Washington transfer Damore'ea Stringfellow is a Treadwell clone in size, stature and speed, Cody Core and Quincy Adeboyejo are veterans who can't be overlooked and 6'2", 182-pound junior Derrick Jones has turned heads this offseason.

"I thought Derrick Jones had the best spring of anyone," Freeze said on the coaches teleconference earlier in May. "He’s a long, rangy, fast kid that’s come a long way."

It all revolves around Treadwell, though.

Now that he's a full go, flipping and ready for fall camp, those Instagram videos are more likely to make opposing coaches cringe than Freeze. He's the catalyst of a Rebel offense that could evolve into one of the SEC's best in 2015.

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.

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.

Follow Barrett on Twitter @BarrettSallee.