Ole Miss defense leads all of college football in key category that could carry them to an SEC Championship
Ole Miss hasn't exactly been known for their dominant defenses under Lane Kiffin, but that's clearly changing this season. When Kiffin brought in Princely Umanmielen (edge defender from Florida) and Walter Nolen (defensive tackle from Texas A&M) it was clear what area of his Rebels defense he wanted to see improve. And they certainly have […]
Ole Miss hasn't exactly been known for their dominant defenses under Lane Kiffin, but that's clearly changing this season. When Kiffin brought in Princely Umanmielen (edge defender from Florida) and Walter Nolen (defensive tackle from Texas A&M) it was clear what area of his Rebels defense he wanted to see improve. And they certainly have to start the 2024 college football season as Ole Miss looks primed to potentially compete for an SEC Championship.
Through the first four weeks of the season the Ole Miss defensive front has more players than any other power conference team with double-digit pass rush pressures. The Rebels seriously already have six players who have pressured opposing quarterbacks at least 10 times.
And not only that, but Ole Miss somehow has 100 total pass rush pressures generated in just four games so far. They aren't always getting all the way home to opposing quarterbacks, but the team does already have 15 sacks on the season.
Princely Umanmielen leads the pack with 16 pass rush pressures, but five other stars are emerging for Ole Miss. True sophomore athletic phenom Suntarine Perkins, linebacker Chris Paul Jr., defensive tackles Walter Nolen and JJ Pegues, plus edge defender Jared Ivey all have at least 10 pressures. They're not showing any signs of slowing down either.
Princely Umanmielen 's first step is so unbelievably strong and fierce. As you can see in the highlight post above when teams don't designate two offensive lineman to his side of the front it generally goes poorly for the quarterback.
But this past week it wasn't just Umanmielen finding success. It seemed every single pass rusher was getting into the backfield. Linebacker Chris Paul Jr. tallied two sacks (to go with his 10 tackles). Suntarine Perkins amassed 3+ pressures for his fourth week in a row. And Walter Nolen finally converted one of his monstrous pressures into a sack himself too.
If Ole Miss keeps bringing the pressure from all positions along their defensive front they're not going to have any problem pressuring some of the best quarterbacks in the SEC. And if they do maintain elite pressure rates all year long? Ole Miss could very well find themselves competing for an SEC Championship when it's all said and done.
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