OXFORD ― Ole Miss football offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. wasn’t ready to highlight any true freshmen who might contribute in 2024 when he met with the media on Thursday.
“It’s still too early to tell on which of those guys will make an instant impact for us,” he said. “We got some time to figure that out.”
On offense, where rotation is less frequent, cracking the depth chart looks like a daunting task. The Rebels have an established quarterback, a loaded wide receiver room, a preseason All-SEC tight end, nine experienced offensive linemen and three veteran running backs who each ran for at least 500 yards last season. Anyone who plays meaningful snaps on that side of the ball will have earned it — and then some.
Defense, then, looks like the place where Ole Miss could rely on some youngsters to contribute.
Here are three true freshmen who could play in 2024 based on early returns from preseason practice.
DE Kam Franklin
It doesn’t take a talent evaluator’s eye to see that Kam Franklin looks SEC-ready.
Franklin signed as a four-star prospect and was rated No. 79 in the country by the 247Sports Composite. As the Rebels’ top-ranked signee, it makes sense that he’s among the top candidates to see the field early.
Though reporters haven’t been given much of a chance to see Franklin in action with pads on, it’s clear that his 6-foot-5, 275-pound frame can help the Rebels on the defensive line this season.
It helps that they got Franklin on campus as an early enrollee. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding also rotated his front six aggressively last season, so Franklin should see some important reps even if he’s not ready to start just yet.
“Kam Franklin had a really good spring, we’re really excited about where he’s at,” Golding said.
DL William Echoles
Many of the same things can be said about William Echoles, another defensive lineman.
Some schools recruited him to play offensive line, but Ole Miss always viewed him as a potential difference-maker on defense.
“I think Will Echoles is exactly who we thought he was,” Golding said. “I think he can be a really dominant player at this level. How much that is this year, we’ll see. But definitely he can have a role and have the ability to help us.”
The 247Sports Composite ranked Echoles as the Rebels’ No. 2 signee. Listed at 6-3, 310 pounds, there’s only one player on the defensive side of the ball who packs more poundage than the true freshman.
GOLDING: Why Lane Kiffin’s transfer portal habits affect how Pete Golding teaches Ole Miss defense
CB TJ Banks
TJ Banks is perhaps a more surprising candidate to see some early defensive snaps.
Gold said that the four-star prospect out of Alabama has impressed him with his combination of speed and size — he’s listed at 6-1, 190 pounds. That’s the exact same size profile as senior Trey Amos, who figures to start.
He’s versatile, too, lining up at corner and moving inside to play slot corner in Ole Miss’ nickel and dime formations. The Rebels gave true freshman defensive back AJ Brown a few early defensive snaps and a load of work on special teams. Perhaps something similar is in store for Banks.
“I think TJ Banks has really flashed,” Golding said. ” . . . He’s really instinctive.”
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.
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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football freshmen who could have impact for Lane Kiffin
