The joy that Ole Miss felt after an unprecedented signing-day haul in February is gone. It has been replaced by a fury now that the team is in summer workouts, according to linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche.
“Everybody is completely focused right now,” the former Grayson High star said. “Everybody has their mind toward the same goal.”
What is the goal?
“Win the SEC championship, and to win as many games as possible,” he nonchalantly answers.
That’s quite a goal considering the team went 7-6, 3-5 last year and hasn’t won the SEC since 1963.
But the Rebels took what many think is a big step toward breaking that 49-year skid earlier this year when coach Hugh Freeze signed what many experts said was one of the best classes in the nation. With that recruiting success came a lot of skepticism, considering the team’s lack of recent playing success.
“It wasn’t a big deal,” Nkemdiche said. “We knew we did it the right way.”
The jewel was Denzel’s brother Robert, a five-star defensive end who also played at Grayson and was considered the nation’s top overall college prospect. Among other standouts who signed were Laremy Tunsil and Austin Golson, two of the top offensive tackles; Antonio Conner, one of the top safeties; Laquon Treadwell, one of the top wide receivers; and Lavon Hooks, a solid defensive tackle.
The freshmen aren’t allowed to do interviews. Denzel Nkemdiche said they are learning fast as the team tries to build chemistry as quickly as possible ahead of the season opener at Vanderbilt on Aug. 29.
“Everybody likes what we are doing here,” he said. “All the players are genuine and sincere. We will take them as brothers. That’s the initiation. They will see that we will have fun, but it’s straight work. Saturday is when we will have our fun.”
Nkemdiche said he is taking an active role in teaching his younger brother the differences between high school and college. He said Robert is adjusting well because he trusts his brother, who is entering his third year at Ole Miss. The brothers do the normal things, such as hang out with friends and play video games when they aren’t practicing or working out. But he said there is not a lot of good-natured joking that one might expect between brothers.
“We have less than two months until our first SEC game together,” he said. “We are taking a business approach. Don’t want to waste any time at all.”
There is work to do if they hope to challenge Alabama and LSU in the tough SEC West.
The Rebels gave up an average of 27.6 points (eighth in the SEC) and 375.8 yards per game (seventh in the SEC) last season.
Denzel Nkemdiche said if the defense can cut down on the mistakes from early last season, it should improve. The team lost three of its first six games — at Texas (66-31), at Alabama (33-14) and at home against Texas A&M (30-27).
“There can’t be any pointing fingers at mistakes,” he said. “We have to bounce back and know the game isn’t over. We have to play the full game.”
He said he’s told the younger players that if they are confused, talk to their coach and work out their confusion until doing what’s right becomes first nature.
Nkemdiche said he’s been most impressed by his brother, who could line up in front of him in the formation, Treadwell and Bobby Hill, an athlete from Colquitt County.
He said he thinks a few of the freshmen will play this year as the team tries to make it to the Georgia Dome, which will host the SEC Championship game Dec. 7.
“We will give everything we have to make it to the Georgia Dome,” he said. “We know it won’t come easy. It will take everything we have. There’s no doubt in my mind that me and my teammates … our focus and maturity level has increased dramatically. There’s so much more competition now. I have high expectations for everybody.”
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