Don’t be surprised if incoming transfer Tony Bridges, a four-star prospect with serious ball skills, starts in the Ole Miss secondary next season.

One of four signees for the Rebels last week, the nation’s top-rated JUCO cornerback brings extreme impact potential to a unit depleted of playmakers who will have exhausted their eligibility after the Chick-fil-A Bowl on Dec. 31.

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All-Americans Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt are heading to the NFL out of a secondary that accumulated an SEC-best 19 interceptions this season. The Rebels gave up just eight touchdowns through the air, second-fewest in the country.

Bridges, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound Hattiesburg native, had offers from several major programs including Alabama, Auburn Georgia and Florida State before choosing Ole Miss through lead recruiter Jason Jones.

In a recent interview with 247Sports, Bridges said Auburn made a serious late push directed by newly-hired defensive coordinator Will Muschamp.

“Auburn told me I was an impact guy, Bridges said. “Muschamp told me as soon as I come in there I would be a starter. He said he had seen a few practices there already and he could tell I would come in and start. They just told me how much they needed me and how much they wanted me.”

Bridges is expected to compete for a starting job alongside Tee Shephad, another former JUCO star who missed the 2014 season with a toe injury. Safety Tony Conner is the top returning player at the back end and steps into a leadership role for the Rebels.