Three Things We Learned at the Homestretch of Ole Miss Fall Camp

Ole Miss football is now entering the homestretch of fall camp with one final practice viewing available to the media before closing its doors. The program is expected to wrap up the month by approaching the remaining days of August like a game week, following Friday, ahead of the Rebels’ top-25 showdown against Louisville to open the season.

Before the upcoming scrimmage and shift to more game prep work, here are three things we’ve learned about the 2026 Ole Miss Rebels at the homestretch of preseason camp.

Defensive Confidence is Through the Roof

Ole Miss linebacker Luke Ferrelli wraps up the running back during a fall camp scrimmage at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Ole Miss Athletics

Ever since the Rebels began their offseason activities during the winter and spring, the Ole Miss coaching staff hasn’t been shy about how confident it feels about the additions and returners at every level of its defensive unit.

Though Ole Miss enjoyed a 13-win season and reached the national semifinals, its defense was far from perfect. In critical moments the Rebels struggled to defend the run and was susceptible to giving up explosive plays through the air, at times, last season.

Now, however, Ole Miss believes its front seven could match up with anyone in the country with an improved secondary to pair it up with. This week defensive coordinator Bryan Brown revealed just how bullish he is on this year’s unit, saying it has the “chance” to be better than the one he helped coach in 2024.

That defense racked up over 50 sacks and allowed under 15 points per game.

“I think when you compare those two — that group in ‘24 was really talented and I think this group has a lot of talent. I think we got a little bit more depth, especially up front,” Brown said this week. “Secondary wise I think we got a little bit of depth as well. I wouldn’t say, right now, they’re going to be better than that group, but we have a chance to be if we do things right and do our job and execute at a high level. But we do have a chance to be better than that group and we have a little bit more depth than that ‘24 group.”

Deuce Knight Continues to Separate

Ole Miss quarterback Deuce Knight carries the ball during a fall camp scrimmage in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. | Ole Miss Athletics

Among the quietly critical storylines of the offseason for Ole Miss involved its backup quarterback competition. Having the right backup completely changed the trajectory of the Rebels’ season when Austin Simmons went down last year.

This offseason’s backup quarterback competition features junior AJ Maddox and sophomore Auburn transfer Deuce Knight.

Throughout the last six months, both have made developmental strides in the right direction, but Knight has continued to separate himself in the competitive race. Ole Miss is pleased with both, but realizes it likely won’t be able to retain both signal-callers past this upcoming season.

"Deuce has continued to flash, obviously a real problem in plus-one runs with his size and speed," Pete Golding said earlier this offseason. "He's doing a good job offensively, creating some of those issues. He had some big runs today. He's getting better at delivering the football and making good decisions, which will continue to come with time."

"You see the flashes with AJ. It's the consistency of playing the position, step in and snap out."

Ole Miss has invested heavily into both, but it has become apparent that Knight is looking more and more like the immediate backup.

“The thing about Deuce is that he rarely puts the ball in the wrong spot,” offensive coordinator John David Baker noted of Knight this month. “It might not be exactly how you want it or exactly on time, but he’s putting the ball in the right spot. If he’s doing that, we can work with it…He adds a different element with his size, speed and what he can do running the football. But as far as operating the offense, I’m really pleased with where he is and feel very comfortable with him.”

Right Tackle Coming into Shape

Ole Miss offensive lineman Tommy Kinsler IV during a one-on-one rep against Alabama transfer Jordan Renaud. | Ole Miss Athletics

The last position Ole Miss has to sort through and establish ahead of its season-opener is at right tackle. The Rebels aren’t as deep as they’d like to be across the offensive line.

However, they have two high-profile options between Tommy Kinsler IV and Carius Curne. Kinsler IV is currently the leader to start after putting together a strong summer. That said, we’re hearing Curne has also quietly turned it around in the last few weeks. Connor Howes has also emerged as a sophomore who could earn rotational snaps.

Curne was expected to initially slide into a starting tackle spot, but an underwhelming spring on and off the field shelved those thoughts.

We wrote more in depth about Kinsler IV here and what makes him a viable starting candidate. The Miami transfer has been among the scrimmage standouts and has taken most of the first-team reps, but Saturday’s upcoming scrimmage will help tell more of the story.

Sign up to our free newsletter and follow us on Facebook and X for the latest news surrounding the Ole Miss Rebels.

Add us as a preferred source on Google