OXFORD — Ole Miss football is in excellent position heading into its first open week of the 2025 season.
The No. 4 Rebels (5-0, 3-0 SEC) soared in the polls after a win against No. 13 LSU (4-1, 1-1).
Coach Lane Kiffin has the Rebels off to a 5-0 start for the 12th time in program history. Instead of sitting back in a holding pattern, Kiffin said he is eyeing changes in the off week.
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“We’re gonna open some competition up with some spots … I don’t want to be like a lot of teams do when they’re 5-0 and just think everything’s fine,” Kiffin said Sept. 28. “You know, there’s things we need to improve on.”
Here are the some suggestions as the Rebels prepare for a home game against Washington State on Oct. 11.
Figure out why Ole Miss is next to last in SEC in sacks
Ole Miss’ defense has improved the past two games, but sacks have not been part of the equation.
The Rebels have five sacks, which is ahead of only Florida (4) in the SEC. Tennessee, the SEC leader, has 20.
Other aspects of the defense have been passable, but converting more pressure into sacks would elevate the Ole Miss defense. There’s room for improvement on the edge. Defensive ends Princewill Umanmielen and Da’Shawn Womack are top contenders. They have combined for just one sack. The only other Rebels with sacks — Zxavian Harris and Will Echoles — are interior linemen.
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The lack of sacks is a change from 2024, when the Rebels had 52 in 13 games.
Ole Miss should use tight end Luke Hasz more
Tight end Luke Hasz transferred from Arkansas to Ole Miss in the offseason with some hype.
Hasz, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound player, was ranked as the No. 2 tight end in the transfer portal and the No. 35 overall player. His season has gotten off to a slow start.
In three games, Hasz has played in some offensive packages but has not recorded a catch. Part of the reason for the slow start is obvious. Hasz sustained a foot injury during preseason practice that put him in crutches. He was out in Week 1 and Week 2 and has been ramping up since.
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Dae’Quan Wright has played well as the primary tight end. He has had at least 60 receiving yards in four games, totaling 279 yards and two touchdowns.
Even with Wright’s usage, there is room for Hasz to get more involved. The Rebels offense supported two tight ends late in 2024 when Wright split time with Caden Prieskorn. Wright had 394 yards and four touchdowns in 2024 and Prieskorn had 401 yards and three scores.
Ole Miss needs to cut down on penalties
Kiffin went over plenty of positives after Ole Miss beat LSU. In the middle of his praise, he veered off into a negative.
“We had too many penalties and two turnovers, which we’ll need to clean up,” Kiffin said.
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The Rebels have been flagged for 39 penalties, which is tied for the fourth most in the SEC. It was especially apparent against the Tigers when Ole Miss committed 14 penalties, eight on offense and six on defense.
There were six pre-snap mistakes: false starts, offsides and an illegal formation. Offensive holding, especially on non-offense linemen blocking down the field or on the edge, hurt the Rebels against LSU. Wright, Hasz, as well as receiver Deshaun Stripling, were each whistled for a hold.
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss football can improve in 3 ways during bye week
