Edward AschoffDerek Tyson 8y

How recruiting can help Ole Miss' offensive line

A look at Ole Miss' biggest position need for 2016 and how the Rebels are addressing it in recruiting:

Biggest need: Ole Miss will have to start from scratch along the offensive line in 2016. For starters, franchise left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who will be one of the first players taken in this year's NFL draft, is gone. Tunsil allowed just two sacks in two and a half seasons, and after missing the first seven games of 2015 he picked right back up and played like the best offensive lineman in the SEC.

The Rebels will also lose three other starters, including right tackle Fahn Cooper (26 consecutive starts), who replaced Tunsil during the first half of the season. Left guard Aaron Morris (40 starts) and center Ben Still (20 starts) will also be gone, along with the very productive Justin Bell (31 starts), who moved around the line during his career.

Christian Morris will also be missed, as his football career ended due to a neck injury he suffered on Oct. 24. But the Rebels will return freshman Jordan Sims, who played in every game in 2015 and started four games at right guard. Fellow freshman Javon Patterson played in 12 games, making six starts, while redshirt freshman Rod Taylor played in 10 games with two starts. Redshirt sophomore Sean Rawlings is also back after starting seven games at right tackle while Cooper was over on the left side. -- Edward Aschoff

Recruiting scoop: The Rebels are putting together a class that resembles their star-studded 2013 class. Their top commit is five-star offensive tackle Greg Little, who is the second-ranked player in the ESPN 300. Ole Miss fans are hoping Little will be a replacement for Tunsil, who is entering the draft. Ole Miss has another ESPN 300 offensive line commit from guard Chandler Tuitt. The four-star prospect is the 214th-ranked player in the country.

The Rebels also have other offensive line commits from three-star prospects Jack DeFoor, Eli Johnson and Bryce Mathews. Ole Miss is hoping these five solid offensive line commits will help protect big-time quarterback commit Shea Patterson. Combine this class with the two ESPN 300 offensive line prospects Ole Miss brought in last year and the Rebels are setting up to have a very formidable offensive line for the near future. -- Derek Tyson

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