Around the SEC: Houston enjoying Ole Miss

After a turn around season at Ole Miss, Houston Nut is looking to take the program to the next level.

By Harold McIlvain II

Sometimes things you like to do become a burden everyone once in a while. Every once in a while you want to do something but just don’t the energy or motivation.

Well, it is one of those days.

But with my fair share of connections, I got Houston Nutt to write the rest of the preview for me. He likes the media.

Houston Nutt:

While I’d like to just sit here and look at the helmet that is here on my Ole Miss desk, I just can’t. I’m a man of the people. When I get a chance to help Arkansas, I do the best I can.

Mississippi Football Schedule 2009: 9/6 @ Memphis 9/12 Bye 9/19 SE Louisiana 9/24 @ South Carolina 10/03 @ Vanderbilt 10/10 Alabama 10/17 UAB 10/24 Arkansas 10/31 @ Auburn 11/7 Northern Arizona 11/14 Tennessee 11/21 LSU 11/28 @ Mississippi State

I couldn’t ask for a better opportunity to let fans know about our upcoming season.

Things have changed. That high school coach Gus Mal-za-hn is back in the Western Division, and we lost some players from last year.

But I don’t want to focus on that. I just want to try to go out there and be the best team in the nation for three or four hours.

Heck, maybe even longer. We are a group of winners and fighters here at Ole Miss. Once we lock arms and move around before the game, we transform into a pack of wolfs.

At the same time, I don’t want to sit here and give lip service. I want to give a little opinion, too.

I don’t think the other teams have the talent level of a Jevan Snead or a Dexter McCluster.

I’m not against that Chad Johnson thing where he wants to Twitter on the field. I think I should be able to text on the field.

I love me some me!

Alright, I think that is enough from Houston.

Despite his aggressive admiration of all things relating to helmets and texting, Nutt could be in line for another great year down in Oxford.

And Snead will be there to lead the way. But after a 2,762 yard, 26 touchdown season, Nutt said Snead just needs to be himself to take the team to another level.

“He’s always been a very unselfish guy,” Nutt said. “Very intelligent. He’s a pleaser. He’s a guy that can move the chains. He knows how to do it.”

But despite shocking Florida and winning nine of 13 games last year, Ole Miss ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in passing yards allowed.

Nutt said the team has improved in the area despite four 300 yard game last year.

“There’s always concern,” Nutt said. ” But our secondary got better. You could tell in the Cotton Bowl. Our secondary did much better and will be better.”

The defense took a little hit by losing four of the top five tacklers from last year, but the defensive line up front could be one of the better units in the country.

And with that help from the front four, the secondary could have a little easier job this year.

The schedule isn’t bad at all with Alabama, Tennessee and LSU at home. Getting South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Mississippi State on the road could set up for a run to Atlanta.

Players to watch:

QB – Jevan Snead:  He is a top five quarterback in the nation that will lead the team during his junior season. He has a nice, balanced offense that will post even bigger numbers from last year after struggling a bit early in the season. Hesiman?

RB – Dexter McCluster:  Gaining 697 yards on the ground is alright. Hauling in 625 passing yards is nice, too. But gaining six yards a carry is even nicer. He is a duel threat that can be at two places at one time. I’ve seen him do it.

S – Kendrick Lewis:  He will lead the defense again this year after a 85 tackle, four pick season. Some top tacklers are gone, so he will have to step up his game a little bit this year. But he has a lot of help up front.

Around the SEC will be looking at each team as they prepare for the college football season. For more coverage, check out the Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU, Georgia or Florida preview.