Pete Golding will prove to Ole Miss fans that he is a problem in 2024, potentially preventing them from winning a national championship.
Ole Miss Football had possibly the most impressive offseason before to the 2024 season. They generated waves in the NIL space, as well as through important transfer portal signings, filling roster gaps with outstanding talent.
In fact, the Rebels’ transfer portal class was that strong. On3 classified it as the third best portal class in the US, after only Colorado and Louisville. Top additions were linebacker Chris “Poo” Paul Jr., edge rusher Princely Unamielen, defensive tackle Walter Nolan, and many more.
The additions, combined with Ole Miss’s great 2023 season under head coach Lane Kiffin’s 11-2 record, have people in Oxford optimistic about 2024. Not to mention that the Rebels welcome back quarterback Jaxson Dart, who will be a Heisman Trophy contender entering his third season as starter.
Why will Ole Miss Football have a disappointing season in 2024?
Despite Kiffin’s high-powered offense, which will undoubtedly produce touchdowns, there is a defensive disparity. That divide begins and ends with defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Unfortunately for the Rebels, the talents they acquired and are returning to the defensive side of the ball may be handicapped by Golding’s track record and inability to get the most out of his top players.
Steven Willis, the LockedOn Ole Miss host, argues that “Ole Miss needs three things for their defense to be elite.” They need the stars to perform like stars…The Juco (Junior College) signees are extremely crucial to the Ole Miss defense, and they must be an explosive unit.”
Although Willis implies that the Rebels have the Stars, which is undeniable, I believe Rebels supporters are being unrealistic about what they took over from Alabama in Pete Golding.
How did Pete Golding do as the defensive coordinator at Alabama?
Increased points per game: By 2021, Golding’s allowed points per game had risen from 14.8 in his rookie campaign to a peak of 20.2. Even though it did drop to 18 points per game in 2022, Tide supporters—who took great pride in defense under head coach Nick Saban at the time—were far less impressed. Additionally, defensive coordinators prior to Golding demonstrated that it was possible to achieve this with defenses that scored far less than the 16.4 points per game average that Golding led Tuscaloosa to during his five years in that role.
Reduced takeaways per game: In Golding’s five seasons at Alabama, his defenses just twice averaged more than 1.5 takeaways per game, and never more than two takeaways per game. In this area, Golding’s defenses degraded so badly that in 2022, his average takeaways per game dropped to.9, good for 120th place in the nation.
The number of famous players decreased: Speaking of standout athletes, linebacker Will Anderson was among the best to have ever played for the Crimson Tide during the Golding era. In his junior year, Anderson had a regression to 51 tackles and 10 sacks after recording 102 tackles and 17.5 sacks in his sophomore campaign. Even though they are still respectable figures, they are not particularly high given Anderson’s level of performance.
How has Pete Golding done so far at Ole Miss?
In 2023, Golding’s lone season in charge of the Rebels’ defense saw his team give up 22.3 points per game, good for 59th place nationally. Additionally, they were only able to record 1.3 takeaways per game, which was only good enough for 88th place nationally.
In 2023, Golding’s lone season in charge of the Rebels’ defense saw his team give up 22.3 points per game, good for 59th place nationally. Additionally, they were only able to record 1.3 takeaways per game, which was only good enough for 88th place nationally.
