--OT Michael Oher originally announced he would enter the NFL draft, but instead decided to return for his senior season after earning first-team All-SEC honors in 2007. He provides a cornerstone for a line with four returning starters.

--When he wasn't spending time in former coach Ed Orgeron's doghouse, DE Greg Hardy was a unanimous first-team All-SEC pick in 2007 after leading the SEC in sacks per game (10 in 10 games) and was second in tackles for loss per game (18.0 in 10 games). Hardy also scored two touchdowns as a situational tight end.

SPRING MOVERS

QB Jevan Snead -- Ole Miss needed Snead to have a big spring ... and he did. Snead, a Texas transfer who sat out the 2007 season, still has a lot to prove on Saturdays but at least he gives the Rebels a chance to become a more productive passing team.

RB Cordera Eason -- Ole Miss fans are excited about the debut of incoming freshman Enrique Davis, Ole Miss' marquee recruit, but Davis will have to compete with Eason, who showed significant improvement in the spring.

LB Allen Walker -- Between injuries and discipline issues, linebacker was a constant source of uncertainty last fall. With a strong spring, Walker looked like someone the Rebels might be able to count on this fall.

QUOTE TO NOTE
"Jevan's had an excellent spring. I love his way of standing in that pocket, he has a quick release and he doesn't flinch. He doesn't care if someone's coming full speed, he knows he's going to take a shot for the team. There's a lot of quarterbacks that will turn and run and hide, but he doesn't. He sits in there strong with confidence and finds our receiver. ... He gives us a chance offensively to keep people off-balance." -- New Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, on quarterback Jevan Snead.

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