OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss is now just over two weeks into fall camp, having completed its first scrimmage on Saturday. On Monday, head coach Lane Kiffin, cornerback Antonio Kite, and offensive lineman PJ Wilkins were available to the media.

Although the defense has been the side of the team receiving the majority of the praise during camp, Charlotte transfer PJ Wilkins had plenty of good things to say regarding his and some of the other players’ performances and development so far.

His perspective on OL performance in scrimmage

“I think as a group we did really good, I mean it’s obvious there’s some stuff we got to clean up,” Wilkins said. “But I think we came out there with the right mindset, and we executed pretty good.”

The offense has been in the shadow of the defense since the scrimmage, and arguably since fall camp began. However, with Wilkins and others on the line to protect QB Austin Simmons, the Rebels will be fine.

Regardless of the direction the quarterback situation takes, the offensive line aims to leave no room for questions surrounding their ability to protect whoever is under center. Wilkins is one of many attempting to make their case as to why they should earn the starting role, and although it seems as if Wilkins may not see the field immediately, he’s not letting that slow him down.

Wilkins is continuously improving, and doing so alongside other transfers in Delano Townsed, Terez Davis, Patrick Kutas, and Percy Lewis in a journey to help Ole Miss attain a playoff-worthy offensive line.

How he’s improving

“Definitely my foot work, I’ve worked a lot on getting my pad level down a lot,” Wilkins said. “Just the small things.”

With Wilkins receiving a new level of coaching since his arrival in Oxford, he has the potential to be a star in the SEC, and even further down the line. Wilkins is only a sophomore, and at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, he has all the potential he needs.

He also has the versatility to meet the needs of the team, regardless of whatever situation they put him in. After starting camp at guard and now being moved around to tackle, he was asked about his ability to play many roles on the line.

“I’ve played left, right, my whole football career,” Wilkins said. “So I’m pretty much comfortable anywhere.”

With the build that he has, if he can clean up on some of the mechanics and continue working on the small things, then Wilkins could be a dominant force on the offensive line for Ole Miss in the seasons to come.

What he’s seen from Devin Harper and Connor Howes

“I feel like both of those guys are very talented kids, and I think they both have a really bright future,” Wilkins said. “Devin Harper, I mean, he comes to work every single day. Connor he’s a hard worker. I think they’re both going to be really good.”

This is great news for Rebel fans, knowing that they have great potential in not only Wilkins but also in freshmen offensive linemen Devin Harper and Connor Howes. Harper is entering at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, while Howes is entering Oxford listed as an inch taller, but five pounds lighter. Harper was also ranked as a top-15 OL in the class.

The offensive line is a key component of a strong offense, and Ole Miss is building a very talented line. Although the three new faces on the offensive line may not receive much playing time this year, they will in the future.

The three of them combined weigh a stunning 965 pounds. Weight doesn’t mean everything, but the three of them have great physical potential given their builds, something that will be tapped into with diets and the weight room.

Their weight already allows them to compete with some of the best physically, but they also have the skill, and that is what will set these three apart from others in the future and give Ole Miss one of the best offensive lines in the seasons to come.