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PARRISH ALFORD: Rebels need newcomers to contribute early
by Parrish Alford/NEMS Daily Journal
Aug 11, 2011 | 1839 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Approaching Saturday's first major scrimmage of Ole Miss camp, the needs and need-nots appear in order for the time being.

No one has slipped on a banana peel and missed valuable learning time. That's what the Rebels do not need.

There are many things they do need from many different people.

You may have heard Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt make reference to his signing class this week.

He needs that class, freshmen and junior college transfers, to show up big. So far, many of the newcomers are showing signs of quick acclimation.

South Panola's Nick Brassell has generated a lot of buzz. He was a big-time signee at receiver, a glamour position. He's also playing cornerback and is getting things done on both sides of the ball.

Brassell is always around the news, even back in the summer while he awaited his ACT score.

Defensive back Senquez Golson is much the same way. He was a story in June when he announced he wouldn't pursue pro baseball with Boston and would attend Ole Miss to play football.

Golson has gotten some second-team work and has made plays as well.

The list goes on. Defensive tackle Uriah Grant, safety Aaron Garbutt and tight end Jamal Mosley, three junior college transfers not around for spring drills, are all within the two-deep.

Linebacker Keith Lewis and safety Chief Brown, freshmen, have made plays.

Linebacker C.J. Johnson, the state's top recruit last season, hasn't played as fast as some others, but he's coming.

Teaching and learning is taking place.

Nutt bluntly called the class "very important" at his Monday presser. Indeed it is. One reason there's been so much talk of the newcomers is because there are so many jobs available, so many places they can help.

Inexperience is rampant, particularly on defense.

There is size, speed and athleticism in the class. In a perfect world, many of them would redshirt, but the Rebels are coming off a 4-8 season. The demands are different for such a time as this.

The coming days will be important for the new folks. The pads went on Wednesday, and that tends to separate people.

Nutt has said a starting quarterback could be named before the middle of camp. West Virginia transfer Barry Brunetti remains the leader, and the time is drawing near when a starter is named things will accelerate.

For the freshmen, acceleration began when they arrived for summer school.

They won't be slowing down soon.

In fact, Saturday will be the time to press harder.

Parrish Alford (parrish.alford@ journalinc.com) covers Ole Miss for the Daily Journal. He blogs daily about Ole Miss athletics at NEMS360.com.
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