Georgia was the overwhelming preseason No. 1 staff. Texas is the highest-ranked SEC staff within the Faculty Soccer Playoff at No. 3. Alabama has extra High 25 wins this season than the CFP’s prime 5 groups mixed.
However the SEC staff that nobody desires to play proper now could be one which isn’t even within the prime 10.
“If you happen to ask me proper now which staff I’d least wish to face, it’s Ole Miss,” stated an SEC defensive coordinator of a High 25 staff. “They’re now probably the most gifted defensive staff within the league. They’ve all these difference-maker go rushers and a real lockdown nook in Trey Amos.
“They simply acquired all these dudes up entrance. Three guys within the prime 5 of sack leaders within the SEC (Suntarine Perkins, 10 sacks and No. 1; Princely Umanmielen, 9.5 sacks and tied for No. 2; and Jared Ivey, 7.5 sacks and tied for No. 5). That’s loopy! (J.J.) Pegues was a featured man for them final 12 months; he’s nonetheless actually good (11.5 TFLs, two sacks) and he’s not even one in every of their prime three! Walter Nolen can also be actually good. An inside man with 4 sacks is fairly dang good. It’s actually spectacular.”
The opposite a part of this that a number of SEC assistant coaches famous was that Ole Miss beat up Georgia though the Rebels had been with out their greatest participant, Tre Harris, a large receiver who has been coping with a lower-body damage. Harris’ 141 yards per sport leads the nation.
Final Saturday the Rebels held Georgia to its fewest factors of the Kirby Good period (10), its fewest whole yards in seven seasons (245) and its fewest speeding yards since 2021 (59). Ole Miss leads the SEC in yards per play allowed in video games in opposition to ranked opponents among the many 14 groups who’ve confronted at the very least two High 25 opponents. Final 12 months, the Rebels had been lifeless final within the SEC at 7.81 YPP in these video games.
To say Ole Miss has a ferocious defensive entrance is an understatement. It’s why line of defense coach Randall Joyner, a Larry Johnson protege, is making case to get Broyles Award consideration. That award is given to the nation’s prime assistant, however, in fact, Rebels defensive coordinator Pete Golding can also be making a compelling case. Ole Miss has 23 extra TFLs than anybody else within the SEC (103) and 18 greater than anybody else within the nation. It additionally has 13 extra sacks than every other staff within the SEC.
4 gamers have already got double-digits in TFLs, and Ivey is shut at 9.5. Final 12 months, they solely had one man in double digits (Ivey with 11.5) Eight Rebels have at the very least 4 TFLs.
A giant piece of that affect is because of the dedication Ole Miss made this offseason to upgrading its expertise within the trenches by means of the portal.
Umanmielen, who transferred from Florida, and Nolan, who transferred from Texas A&M, had been the massive headliners. However different transfers are making a press release: prime tackler Chris Paul Jr. (74 tackles, 10 TFLs) from Arkansas; second-leading tackler T.J. Dottery from Clemson; Amos from Alabama; and defensive again John Saunders from Miami (Ohio). Some present leaders transferred three years in the past, just like the 325-pound Pegues (Auburn), Ivey (Georgia Tech) and linebacker Khari Coleman (TCU).
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Umanmielen has had 11.5 TFLs and eight.5 sacks in his final six video games and has emerged as a dominant drive for the Rebels.
“His fast get-off is phenomenal,” a Rebels coach instructed The Athletic this week. “He units them up the place he desires to counter them, typically with a spin transfer, or he’ll go speed-to-power rush at occasions. One of many (Georgia) tackles overset too shortly as a result of he was so apprehensive about Princely’s pace rush, so (Umanmielen) countered him with a spin transfer and was capable of get a sack. He’s very good and does job of finding out the opposing tackles. He picks them aside.”
Umanmielen solely performed one snap in a 29-26 loss to LSU resulting from damage.
“If we had him, we win that sport,” stated that Rebels coach.
The 6-1, 210-pound Perkins, a former five-star recruit, has been one other nightmare for offenses.
“He’s so freakin explosive. He’s the most effective QB spies within the nation,” stated the Rebels coach.
“He’s stronger than you suppose on the level of assault for being a lighter man,” stated a rival SEC DC who has seen a whole lot of Ole Miss on crossover movie. That coach has been very impressed with the job Golding has achieved this 12 months. “They run extra video games than he used to at Alabama. He’s been actually aggressive on first and second downs and he has actually reduce that D-line unfastened.”
Suntarine Perkins (4) has been a drive of nature for the Rebels. (Petre Thomas / Imagn Pictures)
What else is on my radar
Developments within the teaching carousel
The teaching carousel usually follows perceived tendencies. This winter is just not anticipated to have a whole lot of modifications, however one factor to look at is whether or not older, confirmed winners from lower-levels of soccer are in vogue. Why? Athletic administrators and search firm heads have taken be aware of what has occurred at Indiana this 12 months, I’m instructed.
Curt Cignetti has led the Hoosiers to a 10-0 begin. The 63-year-old started his head teaching profession in 2011 at Indiana College of Pennsylvania within the Division II PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Convention), the place he spent six seasons earlier than shifting on to FCS Elon within the CAA (Coastal Athletic Affiliation), the place he went 14-9. Cignetti was then employed at James Madison, the place that program elevated to FBS below him; JMU went 11-1 final 12 months within the Solar Belt. Cignetti follows within the success of Lance Leipold, a former Division III coach who has gained large in all places he’s been whereas shifting up.
Cignetti’s established methods in operating a program have paid off in Bloomington. It’s why Skip Holtz, who has spent over twenty years as a head coach outdoors the Energy 4 and is now successful large within the UFL, could possibly be in play for the Southern Miss and Rice openings. Similar for Sam Houston’s Okay.C. Keeler, a 65-year-old who has gained two FCS nationwide titles. Keeler took a staff that went 3-9 in its first season within the FBS in Convention USA to a 7-2 mark that started with a blowout win at Rice in August.
Keeler, I count on, will likely be in play for the Rice emptiness in addition to USM.
SEC QB draft inventory
Georgia QB Carson Beck’s draft inventory isn’t the one one in an attention-grabbing spot. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier, a redshirt junior who spent a lot of the earlier two seasons on the sidelines watching Jayden Daniels, had begun to emerge as the highest quarterback prospect within the 2025 class, in response to our NFL draft professional Dane Brugler. However that modified since halftime of the Tigers’ loss to Texas A&M final month.
Nussmeier, the son of Eagles QB coach Doug Nussmeier, ranks No. 30 on Brugler’s newest High 50 Large Board. “With solely 10 collegiate begins on his resume, Nussmeier could be clever to return to high school,” Brugler wrote.
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In current weeks, defenses have continued displaying him completely different photos and giving him completely different appears to be like, whether or not that meant to indicate six up and produce strain, or drop out folks off the sting.
Nussmeier has thrown 5 INTs within the final two video games — each double-digit losses. Nonetheless, his arm expertise is tantalizing.
“I do suppose he’s probably the most gifted,” a long-time NFL scout instructed me. “If I had been a GM, I’d decide him over all these guys. He simply must play much more. I feel he’s seeing issues that he’s by no means seen earlier than. He’s acquired 11 begins and it’s beginning to present. (Texas A&M coach Mike) Elko did some stuff to him, and he appears to be like confused.”
“I feel he’s pretty much as good as any of them,” one other SEC DC stated. “He’s far more aggressive than Carson Beck. He’s a real gunslinger, the place he’s like, if my man is roofed, I can throw him open — and 70 p.c of the time he’s gonna be proper. He’s additionally value his staff at occasions as a result of they’re a lot extra one-dimensional than Georgia is.
“This child might be taking a beating proper now. This child is like Brett Favre. He’s a freaking gunslinger. If he figures it out, in one other 12 months or no matter, he can have a very nice profession. I’m telling you: In large moments, in two-minute drives, you’re like, ‘Holy shit, this dude is nice.’”
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A wild-card QB prospect
The largest wild card within the 2025 NFL quarterback draft class is Louisville’s Tyler Shough. The 6-5, 230-pounder started his profession at Oregon earlier than transferring to Texas Tech earlier than transferring once more to Louisville. He’s thrown 20 touchdowns and 5 INTs this season and has thrown 9 TDs and simply two picks in 4 video games in opposition to High 25 opponents.
“The man with the very best tape by way of the bodily instruments is Tyler Shough,” stated an NFL scout. “Whenever you watch him in comparison with the Riley Leonards, Will Howards and Kurtis Rourkes, throw Mark Gronowski in there, Shough’s arm expertise appears to be like head and shoulders higher. I do know there are some age and sturdiness questions on him. He’s by no means completed a season, so knock on wooden, I hope he makes it by means of this 12 months. He can actually chuck it. If you happen to had been to inform me 4 years from now that he’s been capable of keep wholesome and is a successful starter within the NFL, I wouldn’t be shocked by that.
“It’s a bizarre (quarterback) class.”
(Picture illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; Photographs: Wesley Hitt, John Bunch / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty)