“5 at 5” Football Edition Installment #19, Original Analysis, Running Backs Preview

Rebel Jordan Wilkins (RB, #22), scores a touchdown against Presbyterian in a 2014 contest.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Counting down to the first week of Ole Miss football practice the week of August 7, HottyToddy.com’s own Collin Brister, former sports editor of the Daily Mississippian, will bring you exclusive “5 at 5” analyses of either A) the opponents Ole Miss will be facing this season or B) some background on Ole Miss’ players at each position. It’s being called “5 at 5” because each original piece will give you 5 key things to know, and we will post these stories at 5 p.m. every Monday-Friday.

NUMBER 1:

Key Losses

Make no mistake, losing Jaylen Walton from last year’s team is a huge blow. Walton was extremely good in space and had really good hands for a running back. For a smaller running back, Walton was quite good in pass protection – something that Judd and Wilkins must get better at over the next year. Walton was dangerous and provided Ole Miss a home run ability on kickoff returns.

NUMBER 2:

Key Returners

The Rebels return senior Akeem Judd and junior running back Jordan Wilkins for the 2016 season.

The duo received a lot of carries last season to prepare them to take over for departing senior Jaylen Walton’s role. Judd rushed for 421 yards and three touchdowns last season, coming on strong towards the end of the year, while Wilkins rushed for 379 yards and four touchdowns. Both running backs averaged over 5 yards-per-carry last season. The two running backs provide a physical presence to the offense as both are over 215 pounds. Ole Miss also returns Louisiana native Eugene Brazley. Brazley hasn’t seen much time over the past two seasons, but is extremely quick and could be a home-run threat for the Rebels.

NUMBER 3:

Eric Swinney

The Georgia native is a redshirt freshman who missed the entire 2015 season with a stress fracture. Swinney is a back that Ole Miss has been looking for since Hugh Freeze’s arrival.

Swinney could be the first back in a while that Ole Miss can give the rock to more than 20 times as he’s well over 200 pounds and is extremely nimble. Swinney is someone that Ole Miss fans should keep an eye on this year, but especially in the years to come as the freshman is capable of being one of the better running backs that have gone through the program.

NUMBER 4:

D’Vaughn Pennamon

D’vaughn Pennamon-Pennamon is a freshman running back out of Texas that could contribute immediately to the Rebels.

Pennamon is well over 200 pounds and could be a guy that Ole Miss uses in short yardage situations. Pennamon could see a redshirt if the above three carry the load well, but the former four-star prospect could see playing time in an expanded role if the Rebels see injuries at the position or if one of the former struggles to produce.

NUMBER 5:

Analysis

The Rebels are probably deeper in the running back position than they’ve ever been under Freeze. Ole Miss now has three legitimate options to carry the load. The Rebels have sometimes had to rely heavily on one guy in Freeze’s first few years, but it seems the Rebels have recruited well at the position and seem to have a solid stable of backs.

Collin Brister is a staff writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at collin.brister@hottytoddy.com.

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