QUARTERBACK

- Third-year sophomore Nathan Stanley began the spring with a slight edge over redshirt freshman Raymond Cotton, and Stanley has at the very least held that lead if not expanded it a little.

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt has not named a starter, nor is he likely to by the end of spring. Nutt says if the Rebels were to play this Saturday that both quarterbacks would get on the field, Stanley first, then Cotton.

Through the spring Stanley's accuracy has improved, his turnovers decreased.

Cotton has a strong arm, an asset sometimes overlooked when people talk of his mobility. Indeed, Cotton can get on the edge, and that makes him an intriguing possibility with the option or with the Wild Rebel formation.

Stanley is the truer drop-back passer, but he's not stiff and will surprise people with his mobility.

Junior college transfer Randall Mackey is expected to join the mix this summer. Coaches believe Mackey has "special" athletic skills, and he's a good bet to get on the field somewhere.

It's unlikely a player who will practice with the team for the first time in August will be the starter, but Mackey could establish himself as the Wild Rebel, and it's possible the Rebels could take more snaps from that formation while the starter - likely Stanley - learns on the go.

CENTER

- Something else that will help a young quarterback is a running game, and for that to thrive early the Rebels need to rebuild the interior of their offensive line.

The two candidates are both "grayshirts," the term for a player who signed with one particular class but did not enroll in school with athletic-based financial aid until January. That maneuver counts him against the next season's scholarship limit and allows him to go through spring drills before his first August camp.

Sophomore A.J. Hawkins has been in the program longer but is getting a strong push from freshman Evan Swindall.

Coaches like the footwork of Hawkins, who appeared in 10 games last year. Swindall used his grayshirt year to get bigger and is now pushing 300 pounds.

SAFETY

- Junior college transfer Damien Jackson is running second team, but he's run it at both the strong and free positions.

He's unlikely to beat out senior strong safety Johnny Brown, who has appeared in 37 games with 19 starts, but could beat out senior Fon Ingram in the quest to replace Kendrick Lewis at free safety.

Jackson is a physical tackler and has a knack for making big plays.

The safeties are groomed to play either position, and it's likely that Jackson, Brown and Ingram will comprise a three-player rotation.

Freshman Darius "Tig" Barksdale was expected to add depth here, but shortly into spring drills it was announced that Barksdale had been suspended, and his future with the program is unclear.