A year ago, the Ole Miss Rebels finished 5-5 with an Outback Bowl victory over 11th-ranked Indiana. On that January afternoon, DJ Durkin and Chris Partridge’s defense held the Hoosiers to 20 points. But, the rest of the year, opposing offenses averaged a whopping 40.3 points per game.
It’s no secret that with an improved defense, last year’s bunch could’ve won an extra game or two, but that’s last year. In 2021, Ole Miss’ defensive staff is going to be working with a much deeper front, returning notable experience at the first two levels. On top of that, they have added some significant pieces via recruiting and the transfer portal.