While Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze has upgraded the talent significantly in Oxford, a lot of it just exited.

Gone are first-round draft picks Laremy Tunsil, Laquon Treadwell and Robert Nkemdiche, who were part of a huge recruiting class in 2013. Freeze has restocked the roster, but will the fresh faces be equally good?

On offense, Chad Kelly is without a doubt the No. 1 passer in the SEC. He makes up for deficiencies elsewhere, as he’ll have a new leading rusher, leading receiver and bookend protection this year. Defensively, top sacker Marquis Haynes and top tackler DeMarquis Gates are productive juniors.

Kelly could have joined Tunsil, Treadwell, Nkemdiche and a bushel of other Rebels heading off to the pros, but he chose to return for his senior campaign. His goals? 15-0, an SEC title and a national championship.

If there’s a position where you want to have the best player, it’s quarterback. Kelly needs help, though.

OLE MISS REBELS

SDS 2015 projection: 8-4 (4-4)
Actual record: 9-3* (6-2)

* doesn’t include postseason

Predicting every Ole Miss game in 2016:

Sept. 5 vs. Florida State (L): Another neutral-site game in Orlando that’s not so neutral. The Rebels are set under center with Kelly, but the Seminoles are loaded everywhere else.

Sept. 10 vs. Wofford (W): Even with only five days to recover for the Terriers, Ole Miss gets its first victory of the season and likely scores 60-plus points in the process.

Sept. 17 vs. Alabama (L): Since Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban returned to the SEC, no team has beaten him three consecutive times. Colonel Reb and Co. will have to settle for two.

Sept. 24 vs. Georgia (W): While Shea Patterson sits behind Kelly at Ole Miss, Jacob Eason probably starts right away for the Dawgs. Kelly outduels him based on experience alone.

Oct. 1 vs. Memphis (W): Look for the Rebels to post a big number after the upset they experienced at the hands of the Tigers a year ago. Memphis no longer has Paxton Lynch, either.

Oct. 15 at Arkansas (W): Freeze will want to right the wrong of last season’s 53-52 loss to the Hogs in overtime, which featured one of the wildest finishes in recent memory.

Oct. 22 at LSU (L): Florida State and Alabama will be in the Top 5 by the time they face Ole Miss. LSU probably will be, too. The Rebels fall to 0-3 in such matchups.

Oct. 29 vs. Auburn (W): Kelly threw for 381 yards last year at Jordan-Hare Stadium, just 3 short of his career high, so 400-plus might be in play this time around.

Nov. 5 vs. Georgia Southern (W): The Eagles are no strangers to giving SEC programs fits, even if always asked to do so in enemy territory. Ole Miss better take them seriously.

Nov. 12 at Texas A&M (W): This one has a chance to be quite a battle through the air, as Trevor Knight should be comfortable in the Aggies’ spread scheme come November.

Nov. 19 at Vanderbilt (W): The recipe is there for a Commodores shocker. Ralph Webb can move the sticks. Zach Cunningham leads a strong defense. But too much talent and too much Kelly.

Nov. 26 vs. Mississippi State (W): The Bulldogs are my pick to finish last in the West, so the Rebels finish with a blowout and await their bowl invite.

2016 projection: 9-3 (6-2)
SEC race: 3rd in the West

The Skinny: One way or another, Kelly shouldn’t regret his decision to come back to Ole Miss for one last run as a collegian. He wouldn’t have been a high pick in the draft anyway. With all the drama surrounding Freeze’s squad at this moment, it surely won’t be Kelly’s fault if the Rebels disappoint.

John Crist is the senior writer for Saturday Down South, a member of the FWAA and a voter for the Heisman Trophy. Send him an e-mail, like him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.