Laquon Treadwell, Chad Kelly and Ole Miss Offense Make Big Week 1 Statement

As the 2015 season begins, Ole Miss fans are excited and ready for more. Much more. 2014 was a special year, with Hugh Freeze's team rising above SEC West mediocrity thanks to a nine-win season that included victories over then-No. 3 Alabama and rival Mississippi State.

But thanks to a 42-3 Peach Bowl rout at the hands of TCU, the season ended with a thud. As 2015 opened Saturday against FCS foe UT-Martin, there was reason for, at the very least, some apprehension. 

The quarterback situation was uncertain, and standout wide receiver Laquon Treadwell was returning from a broken leg that ended his 2014 campaign after nine games.

It's hard to draw conclusions from a single game against an FCS team, but Ole Miss made an impressive statement Saturday with a 76-3 rout. The Rebels got an excellent contribution from new starting quarterback Chad Kelly. Treadwell looked healthy. And even massive defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche got in on the offensive party.

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It was a message to the rest of the Rebels' opponents: You aren't getting rid of us so easily.

Ole Miss returned 16 starters from 2014, but quarterback was a major question mark. Bo Wallace was inconsistent, but he finished his career as the SEC's most experienced signal-caller. Freeze spent spring and summer choosing from a trio of replacements: former Clemson quarterback Chad Kelly and sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade.

While all three played Saturday, Kelly got the start and was impressive. He had a pair of explosive plays, throwing a 56-yard touchdown pass to Markell Pack and a 57-yarder to Cody Core.

He even showed off his mobility with an impressive 20-yard sprint around left end for a score, finishing with 211 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on 9-of-15 passing.

Per Brad Crawford of Saturday Down South, Freeze said Kelly was "really solid."

"Missed a touchdown throw to Evan and probably could've thrown one a little bit better on the fade to Laquon earlier in the game," Freeze said. "Thought he had a solid day. Look forward to watching the film, but felt pretty good about it out there."

It was a good start for Kelly, although it must be noted that talent was never the biggest question surrounding him. He was dismissed from Clemson following an on-field incident with an assistant coach and was arrested in December in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, on charges of resisting arrest and menacing following a fight with bouncers outside a bar. He eventually pleaded guilty to non-criminal disorderly conduct.

Buchanan and Kincade were also sharp in limited chances (Buchanan completed four of six passes for 58 yards and two scores, and Kincade completed six of seven passes for 55 yards and a touchdown). Nevertheless, Freeze gave Kelly the biggest opportunity, and he took advantage.

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You could argue 2014 turned on Treadwell's last play of the season. With his team down 35-31 late against Auburn, the speedy wideout lunged for the goal line but fumbled the ball into the end zone while being tackled from behind. He broke his leg, and the Ole Miss offense was never the same. The Rebels lost their second straight game and won only two of their final four. 

Treadwell is healthy, and he's 15 pounds lighter than his 230-pound playing weight of a year ago. He didn't have a touchdown Saturday but looked to be in perfect form, catching four passes for 44 yards.

"He looked explosive," Freeze said. "It's really good to see him get tackled and bounce back up. He's just got to get to some more plays." 

With Treadwell back, the Ole Miss offense will be dangerous, and that doesn't even include new wrinkles such as the one Freeze unveiled Saturday.

Nkemdiche is one of the nation's most dominant defensive linemen, but he also has excellent athleticism, which he displayed by coming out of the backfield to catch a 31-yard touchdown pass. Just another thing for opposing defensive coordinators to worry about, right?

And it should be noted the Rebels did all this without junior left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who was held out of the game as a "precautionary measure" connected to an NCAA investigation of his contact with an agent, per Hugh Kellenberger of the Clarion-Ledger.

If Tunsil, one of the game's best offensive tackles, is cleared, Ole Miss will be even more dangerous.

As Saturday showed, the Rebels are plenty dangerous already.