The Ole Miss Rebels will add some depth to their linebacking corps. this weekend with the return of outside linebackers Serderius Bryant and Denzel Nkemdiche to the starting lineup.

Nkemdiche sat out last week’s season opener against Boise State due to a suspension handed down in response to an offseason arrest. He also sat out spring practice earlier in 2014, but has now finished serving his punishment and will make his return to the field Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Bryant suited up for the Boise State game, but was ejected in the first quarter after drawing a flag for targeting on a helmet-to-helmet hit involving BSU quarterback Grant Hedrick. Because the ejection occurred in the first quarter, Bryant will not have to sit out for any amount of time this weekend, and is free to return to the Rebels’ starting lineup.

Related: Taking another look at Bryant’s ejection

The Ole Miss defense hardly missed a beat without Bryant and Nkemdiche, holding Boise State to just 13 points and less than 400 yards of total offense for the game.

However, Ole Miss was burned time and time again by BSU tailback Jay Ajayi, who amassed 179 yards from scrimmage on 32 total touches, scoring the Broncos’ only touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter. The Rebels surely missed Bryant and Nkemdiche’s presence as Ajayi torched the heart of the defense.

With both linebackers in the lineup in 2013, Ole Miss’ opponents averaged less than four yards per carry in a league filled with talented tailbacks like Alabama’s T.J. Yeldon or Auburn’s Tre Mason.

Bryant led the team with 78 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss a year ago, earning All-SEC recognition at season’s end. Nkemdiche contributed 35 tackles and two tackles for loss while battling injuries a season ago.

Head coach Hugh Freeze expects both players to be hungry come Saturday, which could mean bad news for a Vanderbilt team which failed to register a single point on offense against Vanderbilt.

“I see a kid who is hungry to play and hungry to prove himself again,” Freeze said of Nkemdiche in his weekly press conference Monday. “He has gone through everything with us, and he’s ready to play. It’s just a matter of getting the game plan down this week.”

The Rebels’ head coach said Nkemdiche and Bryant will split time at outside linebacker alongside middle linebacker Deterrian Shackelford and Huskie starter Tony Conner. Bryant will likely draw the start as Nkemdiche eases his way back into live action in the first half of play.

Freeze did admit he is trying to figure out a package allowing both players to be on the field together.

“We’ll need them all before it’s over,” Freeze said.