In the toughest division in college football, no team is safe in the SEC West. Nearly every team in the division has a shot at earning a spot in the SEC Championship game and Ole Miss is one of the favorites.

For the Rebels, wide receiver continues to be an especially important position because of how much they throw the football. Quarterback Bo Wallace has an obvious No. 1 target in Laquon Treadwell, but after that it’s not so clear as a couple players have emerged as a viable No. 2 option for the senior signal caller.

Ole Miss No. 2 WR

Players involved: Vince Sanders and Cody Core

So far this season, all three receivers have been very productive for the Ole Miss Rebels.

  • Sanders – 15 receptions, 225 yards and 2 TDs
  • Core – 12 receptions, 236 yards and 4 TDs

Coming into the 2014 season, depth was a question mark at the wide receiver position, but now with three players – Sanders, Core and Adeboyejo – the question of who is Wallace’s No. 2 target keeps being raised. Cody Core, the junior deep threat, has an explosive first two weeks of the season, hauling in eight receptions for 195 yards and three touchdowns. He’s been easily the most explosive of the group as he averaged just over 24 yards per reception.

Sanders, on the other hand, has a bit more experience than Core, who is getting his first real playing opportunity as a junior. Sanders is the eldest of the receiving corps as the resident senior, playing in 31 games over the past three seasons. His start to the season was a little bit quieter than Core. But the 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver came on strong this past weekend against UL Lafayette with eight receptions, 125 yards and two touchdowns, a career day for him.

The No. 2 receiver position had added importance this season because of the losses of receivers Donte Moncrief, Ja-Mes Logan and Jordan Holder (a combined total of 118 receptions, 1,649 yards and nine TDs) from a year ago. But both Sanders and Core have risen up to the challenge.

Sanders and Core differ somewhat in skillset. Sanders doesn’t stand out particularly in any one area, but he’s as reliable as they come for the Rebels. He’s a receiver that Wallace can trust immensely, as long as he stays healthy. Core, on the other hand, jumps out at you right away with his height and speed. At 6-foot-3, 196 pounds, Core brings a very capable deep threat for Wallace and he’s proven that thus far as the team’s primary slot receiver.

Both are playing well and both serve a purpose within the Rebels offense. However, when Wallace needs that go-to No. 2 wideout, who does he throw to – Core or Sanders? For now, that’s not a question that has to be answered, but as the season progresses, it’s certainly a situation where the Rebels should consider themselves fortunate as both players have the talent to be one of the better No. 2 wideouts in the SEC.