Ole Miss’ McCluster Turning Heads in the SEC
In a conference where defense rules, there’s a player smaller than most, at 5’8″ that is making the biggest of differences. Coming to the University of Mississippi as a wide receiver, Dexter McCluster was transformed into what would become the key to coach Houston Nutt’s “Wild Rebel” offense. The innovative formation, with plays that have been used at all levels of football, caused havoc in the SEC last season, as the Rebels stormed out in Nutt’s first season to a Cotton Bowl win over Texas Tech in part of a 10 win season in which Ole Miss defeated the national champion Florida Gators in the Swamp.
Aside from Second Team All-SEC quarterback Jevan Snead, McCluster was monumental in the success the Rebels enjoyed last season. Transformed into a hybrid running back/wide receiver, #22 had arguably the best season out of anyone on the team compiling 1,280 total yards including seven touchdowns. Not playing running back since high school, Nutt had an idea on his first day on the job to put McCluster in the position, and the change offered great potential. With a 40 yard dash time clocked around world class sprinter speed, mainly around 4.2-4.3, Ole Miss often would “hide” McCluster in the backfield and thus create problems for the defense.
Now, in his senior season, the Rebel game breaker is looking forward to having one of the best seasons out of anyone in the country and his debut last night would back that up. Getting nine carries, McCluster compiled 5o yards and a touchdown. Running the ball wasn’t the only thing Dex did last night against Memphis, as the All-SEC selection also caught six passes for 65 yards and another touchdown, Snead’s first on the year. As Nutt’s team tries to not overlook any opponent on the schedule, the interesting fact is that the Gators are not on the regular season short list, so if this Rebels team can execute in the biggest games, we could see an SEC Championship Game in which both teams head into the matchup undefeated, with McCluster causing problems on a defense that couldn’t stop him in their loss last season.
