Most Impactful Rebels for 2019: No. 8 Josiah Coatney 

OXFORD, Miss. — As we count down the days until the Ole Miss season opener against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl, we are releasing who we think the Top 50 Most Impactful Players will be for the Rebels this season. This series is a way for Ole Miss fans to learn more about players to keep an eye on this fall.

With 8 days before kickoff, coming in at No. 8…

Josiah Coatney

Josiah Coatney was a four-star defensive end, according to 247Sports, out of Holmes Community College when he signed with Ole Miss in the Class of 2016.

Josiah Coatney in 2018 Egg Bowl. (Photo: Dan Anderson, Rebel Walk)

As a freshman at Holmes C.C., the 6-foot-4, 314-pound Coatney notched 46 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two blocked kicks. He transferred after his freshman season to Ole Miss with four years to play three and redshirted the 2016 season.

In 2017, as a redshirt sophomore, the Douglasville, Georgia native made his presence felt, starting all twelve games on the defensive line.

He finished third on the team with 65 total tackles and also made 3.5 sacks on the season. He earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors after his performance at Kentucky (11/4/17) where he tallied five tackles, including a career-high 2.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks.

Coatney, who represented Ole Miss at 2018 SEC Media Days in Hoover, speaks openly about what the game of football has given to him.  

“You get intangible things from football that you can use for the rest of your life.” – Josiah Coatney (@Brad_SonOfBrady), @OleMissFB#MotivationMonday #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/mIPG8rAuzT

— Future For Football (@Future4Football) September 10, 2018

Last season, as a junior, Coatney played in twelve games along with 11 starts on the defensive line. He was once again third on the team in tackles after tallying 63 total tackles. 

Josiah Coatney vs. Miss. State last night in Oxford..forced fumble @Brad_SonOfBrady pic.twitter.com/ZOkk89TKRD

— Holmes Athletics (@holmesathletics) November 24, 2018

With the transition this spring from the 4-2-5 to the 3-4 base defense, Coatney believes the change will help him get to the next level. “It will help,” said Coatney. 

Josiah Coatney on the 3-4 defense

Coatney, named 2019 Preseason All-SEC Fourth Team (Athlon), entered fall camp as the starter at strong-side defensive end along with Austrian Robinson. The versatile Coatney has also been able to move inside and take some reps at nose tackle in case he needs to spell Benito Jones. 

For the past two seasons, Coatney–a May, 2018 graduate of Ole Miss–has been a consistent presence on the defensive line for the Rebels. Now as a senior, the talented defensive lineman has a chance to turn a strong senior performance into a selection in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Hotty Toddy! 

Most Impactful Rebels for 2019

8.  Josiah Coatney
9.  Ben Brown
10. Lakia Henry
11. Sam Williams
12. Qaadir Sheppard
13. Jacquez Jones
14. Miles Battle
15. Jerrion Ealy
16. Braylon Sanders
17. Eli Johnson
18. Myles Hartsfield
19. Dontario Drummond
20. Jon Haynes
21. Montrell Custis
22. Demarcus Gregory
23. Bryce Mathews
24. Royce Newman
25. Tylan Knight
26. Tariqious Tisdale
27. Octavious Cooley
28. Jalen Julius
29. Luke Logan
30. Nick Broeker
31. Austrian Robinson
32. Quentin Bivens
33. Willie Hibbler
34. Isaiah Woullard
35. Jadon Jackson
36. Grant Tisdale, Kinkead Dent, John Rhys Plumlee
37. Keidron Smith
38. Snoop Conner
39. Michael Howard
40. Vernon Dasher
41. Ryder Anderson
42. D’Vaughn Pennamon
43. C.J. Miller
44. Charles Wiley
45. Sincere David
46. Mac Brown
47. Jason Pellerin
48. Chandler Tuitt
49. Dannis Jackson
50. Jonathan Mingo

Derrell Hart

Derrell has covered Ole Miss athletics in the past for Rebels247 at 247Sports. He attended Delta State University where he graduated with a B.S. in Biology. He is currently pursuing his Pharm.D. at the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy with an expected graduation of May, 2020.