导出博客文章OXFORD, Miss. -- A big chunk of Mississippi stars power from last season is gone, off to the NFL after helping push the program into the upper tier of the Southeastern Conference.But the Rebels who remain are pretty good, too.And thats exactly the reason Ole Miss feels it can be even better than last season, when the team won 10 games and took home the Sugar Bowl trophy for the first time since 1970.But players and coaches say there is plenty more to prove for a program that hasnt won a Southeastern Conference title since 1963.We could talk a long time on that one, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. I assure you theres motivation.The Rebels do have one legitimate star still on the roster. Senior quarterback Chad Kelly is viewed as a long-shot Heisman Trophy candidate after throwing for more than 4,000 yards and running for 500 more in his first season as the teams starter.But Ole Miss must replace standouts like offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, receiver Laquon Treadwell and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, who were all selected in the first round of the NFL draft in April.Freeze is confident in the internal replacements.Freshman left tackle Greg Little was one of the nations top recruits last season -- though he may not start right away. Receivers Damoreea Stringfellow and Quincy Adeboyejo, along with tight end Evan Engram, are back after being important parts of last years passing game. And veteran defensive linemen like Fadol Brown, Marquis Haynes and D.J. Jones -- along with the arrival of touted freshman Benito Jones -- could make the Rebels even deeper at that spot this season.Ole Miss needs to be ready right away. The Rebels have a brutal September schedule that starts with a neutral site game against Florida State on Sept. 5 in Orlando. There are also back-to-back home games against Alabama and Georgia later in the month.Ive never been on a staff that faced a September quite like what were facing, Freeze said. Its not hard to motivate our kids. They understand whats in front of them, so thats a positive.Here are a few things to watch for the Rebels this season:KEEP MOVING UP: Freeze is in his fifth season has improved the program by one win each season. The Rebels had a 7-6 record in 2012 before eight wins in 13, nine wins in 14 and finally 10 last season. Considering the Rebels difficult schedule, 11 wins in 2016 would be quite a feat.PATTERSON IN WAITING: Kelly will run the show at quarterback this season, but the Rebels hope his eventual replacement will be just as good. Freshman Shea Patterson was one of the nations top quarterback recruits and both Freeze and Kelly have raved about his quick release and ability to learn the playbook.NCAA DISTRACTION: Ole Miss might be good on the field, but a four-year NCAA investigation into the athletic program, including football, continues to fester. Freeze and the players say the investigation wont be a distraction but its certainly something to watch if big news happens in the case during mid-season.CONNERS BACK: The Ole Miss defense is welcoming the return of senior safety Tony Conner, who missed a big chunk of last season because of a knee injury. Conner had 69 tackles, which ranked second on the team, as a sophomore in 2014.TRYING FOR BALANCE: Ole Miss was one of the nations elite passing teams last season, but sometimes struggled to run the ball. The Rebels hope a combo of veterans like Jordan Wilkins and Akeem Judd can help the team improve after averaging 183 yards on the ground last season, which ranked 7th in the SEC.KEY GAMES: If Ole Miss can get past its difficult September schedule, there are still a lot of tough games, including back-to-back road trips to Arkansas and LSU in October. And, of course, theres always the Egg Bowl against rival Mississippi State on Nov. 26.PREDICTION: Ole Miss is good, but the schedule is nasty and its hard to see a scenario where the Rebels are able to roll through September unscathed. Look for Ole Miss to win a few big games and lose a few, too, putting them in the middle of the pack in the SECs Western Division.SEASON OPENER: A neutral site game against Florida State in Orlando on Sept. 5.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter:
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www.collegefootball.ap.org ATLANTA -- Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman kept picking himself back up despite a throbbing shoulder that felt worse as the game wore on.Perryman watched two defensive teammates, Caraun Reid and Craig Mager, leave with injuries, and he had to take a couple of snaps off to give his shoulder some rest.It turned out to be just enough.San Diego rallied from a 17-point deficit Sunday, holding the NFLs most potent offense to three points after intermission for a 33-30 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons.Perryman intercepted Matt Ryan with 3-plus minutes remaining to set up the tying field goal and he had the big stop in overtime, tackling Devonta Freeman for a 1-yard loss on fourth down to set up the Josh Lambos 42-yard winning kick.Honestly, it was just instincts, Perryman said. It was fourth-and-one. They were successful running the ball today. We stopped them a couple of times, but it was fourth-and-one and, no-brainer, theyre going to run the ball. The d-line did their job. I did my job. All 11 did their job.Its been a hard month for Perryman. He injured his left shoulder in the second quarter of a one-point home loss to New Orleans on Oct. 2. He missed the following weeks loss at Oakland and took just 23 snaps in last weeks home win over Denver.Right now the adrenaline thats going on, I dont feel it, he said. But as soon as the cameras leave and I get on that plane, Im going to feel everything.Perryman gave himself a quick moment to ssavor his first career interception.dddddddddddd He carried the ball to the sideline during the change of possession and clutched it next to his chest as he lay on his back smiling.Some teammates helped him get back on his feet and Perryman got to watch quarterback Philip Rivers and the offense run 11 plays and Lambo kick a 33-yarder in using up all but the last 18 seconds of regulation.Perryman and the defense got the chance they wanted after Matt Bryant missed a 58-yarder that wouldve won the game with no time left in regulation.I just stuck it out and just fought today, man, he said. I told the coaches I was going to give everything I got. I told (teammates the same thing) and they did a good job making sure I was staying positive, that I wasnt too down on myself because of the injury.When Freeman tried to spin away from pressure on fourth-and-one, Perryman already had his feet wrapped up, and the running back went down, touching off a big celebration on the field and the Chargers sideline.He knows how much he means to this football team, San Diego coach Mike McCoy said. He has something hes been dealing with. You all know about that. He didnt want to come off the field. He came off a couple of plays, felt a little better and went back out there.---Online:AP NFL website:
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