Though Ole Miss Football lost several key defensive backs, the incoming transfer portal class brings a fresh batch of talent.
TJ Banks, Rickey Fletcher and Chris Graves Jr. transferred to Louisville, Cal and Missouri, respectively. Wydett Williams, Kapena Gushiken and Sage Ryan are all out of eligibility.
To replace them, the coaching staff brought in a pair of four-star defensive backs, cornerback Jalyn Crawford from Auburn and safety Edwin Joseph from Florida State, along with three-star safeties Joenel Aguero from Georgia and Sharif Denson from Florida.
These four incoming transfers are all from Power Four teams and, as upperclassmen, are experienced. All four players have either SEC or ACC. Defensive coordinator Bryan Brown touched on this during a press conference on Friday, April 3.
“We have a winning culture, and I think that’s one of the biggest things that you can have,” Brown said. “That’s why you’re seeing us get some of these top recruits, whether it’s high school four-star, five-star guys, whether it’s some of the top portal guys — you definitely see (the winning culture). The guys, especially in the portal, want to come win and win out, because they don’t have much time left.”
Crawford and the other transfers have been impressing in spring practices so far. Brown commented specifically on Crawford, and also said competing against the talented batch of wide receivers is helping the secondary improve.
“Jay Crawford has done great, making a lot of PBUs (pass breakups) and understanding that at this place, you want to have some really good receivers as well — so iron sharpens iron, and they’re going against some really good talent,” Brown said.
The secondary struggled as a unit at times last season. Ole Miss ranked No. 37 nationally in passing yards allowed at just under 200 per game. However, if Georgia State’s 69-yard performance and Tulane’s 104-yard performance (in the regular season) are both factored out, Ole Miss’ average rockets up to 232.3 yards allowed per game, which would be No. 94 in the nation.
According to PFF, Sage Ryan’s defensive grade was a 60.8, and his tackling grade was a 49.5. Additionally, he allowed 24 catches on just 32 targets — a 129.3 passer rating allowed.
Admittedly, in many instances, the defensive line was partially responsible for big passing outings by opposing teams. When the Rebel pass rushers were unable to finish plays in the backfield, the cornerbacks and safeties were forced to stay in position for upwards of five seconds, a length of time which often led to broken coverages.
Still, the newcomers will hope to control what they can control and do what they can in bolstering the unit. They will join a group of returnees including Cedrick Beavers, Antonio Kite, Jaylon Braxton and Nick Cull. Brown said that the returnees are helping bring along the newcomers.
“The guys that are already in house, they show the guys coming in what this culture is and what we are about,” Brown said. “I think that the guys coming in are watching the ones that have been here from a leadership standpoint, and they’re following.”
Of the returnees, Kite had the most snaps last season with 541, yet this was only good enough for fifth most on the team. Beavers, Braxton and Cull accounted for 638 total snaps.
Brown commented on Kite’s experience and meaning to the team, but he also stressed that the cornerback needs to be a more outspoken leader in the locker room.
“Antonio Kite is a really good football player, but very quiet … and shy, so (we are) just challenging him to be more vocal from the backend standpoint,” Brown said.
