They don’t seem to be glaring issues, but there are questions on Ole Miss’ defense and it’s not all about replacing Robert Nkemdiche.

In fact, Nkemdiche’s former spot and the rest of the front four seem solid, especially if DE Marquis Haynes can continue running roughshod into the backfield every other play.

It is the back seven that if any spots raise questions, they raise here.

Linebacker DeMarquis Gates led the Rebels in tackles last season with 76, but he started only four games, his rise pushed along by the fall of Denzel Nkemdiche. He has said he is ready for a breakout season, but the expectations on him will be multiplied tremendously. He’ll have to handle it in the spotlight this season. Behind him is redshirt freshman Willie Hibler.

At outside linebacker, Terry Caldwell is penciled in on the first depth chart. Caldwell started only three games last season. He did have 32 tackles and forced a couple of fumbles, but like Gates, his role will be increased and magnified.

As the position transfers from staple C.J. Johnson, linebacking got help with graduate transfer Rommel Mageo – Mageo led Oregon State with 87 tackles last season – and redshirt junior college sophomore Detric Bing-Dukes. Bing-Dukes originally signed with Georgia as a three-star prospect before transferring to Iowa Western.

There is a ton of room for improvement in the passing game. The Rebels ranked 13th in the SEC, allowing 258.8 yards per game. Only Arkansas was worse. Georgia ranked first and gave up about 102 fewer yards passing per game.

In a loss to Memphis, Chad Kelly threw for 440 yards, but in the loss, Memphis QB Paxton Lynch threw for 384. In its other two losses, Arkansas threw for 442 and Florida 271.

The Rebels were next to last in the conference with 157 first downs allowed through the air, next to last in plays of 15-plus yards allowed with 75 and had the 12th-worst mark allowing 25 passing plays of 25 or more yards.

At corner, Tony Bridges and Kendarius Webster combined for 4 interceptions, 20 pass breakups and 24 deflections. They also benefitted from having Mike Hilton and Trae Elston, who were second and third on the team in tackles and led the team in breakups and deflections. Redshirt freshman Jalen Julius is listed behind Bridges.

At Rover, four-star recruit Myles Hartsfield blew coaches away in spring work to rise to the top of the depth chart. That said, he’s still a freshman with Saturday work to prove.

C.J. Hampton and Zedrick Woods are listed side-by-side on the opening depth chart at free safety. It will likely end up as Hampton’s to lose, but their 2015 numbers are similar with six combined starts and both have to secure the top spot. Another talented but young player, redshirt freshman Armani Linton, is second on the chart at free safety.

The return of Tony Conner at Huskie is bringing the most excitement to a new-look defense. How he returns from that aggravating meniscus that may have kept him out of the first round of the NFL Draft is to be determined. Behind him is junior A.J. Moore, then another redshirt freshman Montrell Custis.