SEC Programs Ranked by Returning Starters in 2023, Ole Miss Rebels Earn No. 2 Spot
OXFORD, Miss. -- Nowadays in college football, it is harder than ever to keep talent on your roster year after year thanks to the opportunities the NIL and NCAA Transfer Portal offers players. But if you crack the code on understanding how to keep players in your program, you give your team an immediate advantage over your competition in terms of experience.
This fall, there are nine teams in the Southeastern Conference returning double-digit starters, and the Ole Miss Rebels are bringing back the second-most.
On Wednesday, 247Sports ranked every SEC team based on returning and Ole Miss came in at No. 2 with 13 returning starters in 2023 (eight offense, five defense). The Texas A&M Aggies sit atop the conference with 16 returning starters.
OLE MISS REBELS
Returning starters: 13; (8 offense; 5 defense)
Every starter on the Ole Miss defense will either be a junior or senior this season, making this one of the most experienced units in the SEC. Lane Kiffin opted to go transfer portal-heavy again for talent in positions of need, including wide receiver. Jaxson Dart is back under center, but joining the fold in competition is Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders — a former four-year starter in the Big 12 — and LSU's Walker Howard. The obvious superstar returning starter is Quinshon Judkins, arguably the SEC's top ballcarrier.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin hit the portal hard this offseason in search of experienced defenders for new defensive coordinator Pete Golding to utilize, but the Rebels still have plenty of stars returning from last fall. Quarterback Jaxson Dart is currently locked in a position battle with former transfers Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State Cowboys) and Walker Howard (LSU Tigers) but posited great improvement during spring practices, recording just one interception.
Running back Quinshon Judkins returns as the reigning SEC Freshman of the Year and looks poised for a potential Heisman Trophy campaign. Ole Miss lost receivers to the 2023 NFL Draft, but returning wideouts Jordan Watkins and Dayton Wade will have crucial roles in Kiffin's offense.
Here are the full rankings for SEC programs and their returning starters this fall.
1. Texas A&M Aggies - Returning starters: 16; (8 offense; 8 defense)
2. Ole Miss Rebels - Returning starters: 13; (8 offense; 5 defense)
3. Missouri Tigers - Returning starters: 13; (5 offense; 8 defense)
4. Georgia Bulldogs - Returning starters: 12; (6 offense; 6 defense)
5. LSU Tigers - Returning starters: 12; (8 offense; 4 defense)
6. Tennessee Volunteers - Returning starters: 12; (7 offense; 5 defense)
7. Kentucky Wildcats - Returning starters: 12; (7 offense; 5 defense)
8. Mississippi State Bulldogs - Returning starters: 11; (7 offense; 4 defense)
9. Vanderbilt Commodores - Returning starters: 10; (6 offense; 4 defense)
10. Alabama Crimson Tide - Returning starters: 9; (4 offense; 5 defense)
11. South Carolina Gamecocks - Returning starters: 9; (5 offense; 4 defense)
12. Auburn Tigers - Returning starters: 9; (2 offense; 7 defense)
13. Arkansas Razorbacks - Returning starters: 7; (4 offense; 3 defense)
14. Florida Gators - Returning starters: 7; (3 offense; 4 defense)
You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.
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