Ole Miss has been known for its explosive offenses in recent seasons but outside of Jordan Wilkins senior season in 2017, the Rebels have not featured a 1,000-yard rusher since Dexter McCluster’s final campaign in Oxford all the way back in 2009.

While the Rebels are loaded at receiver, possess a talented offensive line and arguably the most underrated quarterback in the league heading into the 2018 season, the one missing piece, on paper at least, appears to be No. 1 option at running back. Based on everything he’s shown since his arrival on campus back in January, junior college running back Scottie Phillips could be that guy.

Coming off two consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at the JUCO level, Phillips flashed his potential in the spring and has done nothing since that time to suggest that was simply a flash in the pan. According to his head coach, Phillips was the running back that stood out during the team’s most recent scrimmage.

“Scottie hit a big one on Saturday in the scrimmage,” Matt Luke said during his latest media availability. “There’s a really good competition going on right there, they are making each other better. Really like the competition and the physicality they are running with.”

After having his media session, Phillips also met with the Oxford media to discuss his perspective on his first Ole Miss training camp

“I think I’m doing pretty good, getting a lot of reps with the ones and twos, trying to make the best of each opportunity and get better each and every day,” Phillips said.

As for his big run in the team’s most recent scrimmage, Phillips deflected most of the praise and credited his offensive line for giving him the space to make the play.

“It felt good, the O-Line did a great job of paving the way for me,” Phillips continued. “I had the easy job of just finding the hole and bursting through it.”

According to 247Sports Composite Rankings, Phillips was the No. 2 JUCO running back in the nation for the 2017 recruiting cycle out of Jones County J.C. Here is his junior college highlight reel: