SDS is looking in-depth at teams and their biggest subplots heading into 2015. Next up: The Ole Miss Rebels.

1. REPLACING BO WALLACE

Wallace was a three-year starter for the Rebels. That kind of experience leading the team isn’t easy to replace. Hugh Freeze still hasn’t named a starter for this season and the competition is ongoing between junior college transfer Chad Kelly and redshirt sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincade.

Many believe Kelly will win the job because of his athleticism and similar overall game to Wallace. Kelly ran basically the same system in JUCO that he’ll be asked to run for the Rebels, which should only help him have success in Oxford.

Because of the Landshark defense, it’s easy to forget that Freeze comes from an offensive background. Freeze was able to get the best out of Wallace last season and propel Ole Miss to being an SEC West contender. Freeze could have that same kind of impact with whichever quarterback wins the job this year and another season as one of the nation’s best teams could be within reach.

2. THIRD YEAR FOR ESTEEMED 2013 RECRUITING CLASS

The Rebels 2013 recruiting class was loaded with four and five-star players, many of whom are key starters for Ole Miss as they enter their junior year.

Defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, wide receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive back Tony Conner, all five-star members of the ’13 class, are projected to leave early, possibly as first-round picks. Tight end Evan Engram is another member of the class that will most likely go in the first few rounds of the 2016 draft.

Potentially losing all that talent after this season could mean this is Freeze’s last chance for a national championship push with this group.

There are surely bigger and better things down the line for the Ole Miss 2013 recruiting class, but you can bet that these guys are going to be looking to go out with a bang together and want to continue to fulfill some of the goals they set out for themselves when they first got to Oxford.

3. QUEST TO BE THE NATION’S TOP DEFENSE

The Rebels finished 13th in total defense last season and return most of their key contributors on that side of the ball. Ole Miss is having to replace two All-Americans in the secondary but they are being replaced with some studs. With Tee Shepard, Tony Bridges, Tony Conner, Mike Hilton and Trae Elston back there, defensive backs are not a concern for the Rebels.

Ole Miss isn’t worried about its front seven either. It’s virtually the same defensive line as last year and it’s going to be hard for opponents to keep double-teaming Nkemdiche because the guys around him will do too much damage. The defensive line is so deep that Freeze decided to move C.J. Johnson from defensive end to middle linebacker where he will team up with a healthy Denzel Nkemdiche to provide a stout middle of the defense, especially against the run.

There’s plenty of reason to believe that this group can be even better than last year’s, and if that’s the case then Ole Miss could boast college football’s top defense.

4. ARE THE REBELS WIDE RECEIVERS THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY?

It may not matter who plays quarterback for the Rebels because of how talented they are at wide receiver. If you throw Engram the tight end into the mix, any Ole Miss quarterback is going to be spoiled with receiving threats.

Treadwell could be the best wide receiver in college football this season and Freeze has said that sophomore wideout Damore’ea Stringfellow is a very similar talent. Junior Quincy Adeboyejo is experienced and as consistent as they come. And Cody Core can burn by defenders at any time and has a knack for scoring.

You’d be hard pressed to find a team with more viable targets in the passing game than Ole Miss this season.

SDS TAKEAWAY

There’s no reason to believe the Rebels won’t at least match their 9 wins from last year. But 10 or 11 wins and a berth in the four-team playoff, isn’t out of the question for Hugh Freeze’s team.

Getting through the SEC West is never easy but Ole Miss has built the type of team that can withstand it. We know what we’re going to get from the defense. Not even injuries should derail that side of the ball, which legitimately goes about 15 players deep.

Offense is a bigger question mark, but if the quarterback play is even decent the Rebels won’t be an easy team to stop because of the amount of weapons they have on that side of the ball. The offensive line returns all five starters and adds some very talented underclassmen as well.