It’s not often that a team that finished 29th at NCAAs gets ranked pre-season #5 the next year. But for the rapidly improving Ole Miss Rebels, we certainly have to make an exception. Despite qualifying for NCAAs for just the first time in school history last season, Mississippi is ready for a whole lot more in 2015.

 

How/why have the Rebels suddenly shot up the rankings? 

 

Look no further than third year coach Ryan Vanhoy, who has proven himself to be a top notch recruiter in his short time in Oxford. The young coach is credited with the early development of Eric Jenkins while he was still competing at Northeastern, and that reputation has allowed him to build one the NCAA’s best kept secrets with this year’s Rebel team. 

 

Leading the charge in 2015 will be All-American MJ Erb, who transfers in from Syracuse after finishing 37th at NCAAs a year ago. Erb was 'Cuse's #1 man in Terre Haute, and he’s expected to fill that leading role for his new team after running 3K/5K PRs in his first couple months in Oxford. 

 

Behind Erb, Mississippi’s pack should be capable of a very small spread. Wes Gallagher (who followed Vanhoy from Northeastern) led the 2014 team at NCAAs with his 80th place showing, but was expected to finish higher after placing 3rd in the South region. Gallagher boasts a 14:02 5K PR. 

 

Sean Tobin did not finish at NCAAs a year ago due to injury, but he finished right behind Gallagher at regionals and has really impressive range, shown by his 1:47 800 speed and 14:16 5K strength. Now a sophomore, Tobin is expected to make big improvements this fall. The same is true for junior Robert Domanic, who was 112th in Terre Haute last season. Domanic lowered his mile PR by nearly seven seconds this past indoor season, and then qualified to NCAAs in the 1500 outdoors. 

 

The Rebels’ projected 5th man Trevor Gilley showed big improvement this track season after a 211th place finish at NCAAs, including lowering his 5K PR by more than a minute down to 14:03.

 

So, is this team really ready to step to the plate with the big boys in the NCAA and contend for a podium finish? We’re not denying that it’s quite the tall order for a team that’s just now bursting on to the national scene, but with the All-American Erb leading the Rebels and his teammates expected to improve greatly from last season, this team has the depth to finish top 5. Regardless of what happens this season, however, Coach Vanhoy is building something special in Oxford and the Rebels are here to stay.