OXFORD, Miss. - The much anticipated 2009 Ole Miss football season officially got underway Monday evening when the Rebels opened fall camp on the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

"There is nothing like football and being out here with these guys," head coach Houston Nutt said.   "I am so excited about the freshmen. When you see them run around for the first time with an Ole Miss helmet on you realize that this is an exceptional class.  Are they ready to go yet, no I am not saying that, but they can run, jump and catch.  You can see real potential, and I am excited about that."

The Rebels received good news regarding the status of Parade and U.S. Army All-America Darius Barksdale.  The Batesville Miss., defensive back was cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse Monday.

"He has to go through physicals and all that, and hopefully he'll be out here sometime tomorrow," Nutt said.

Nutt talked about the difference in retention from last year's fall camp, when everything was still relatively new, to this year.

"It's so much better compared to this time last year, with Jevan Snead getting us out of the huddle and Jonathan Cornell on the other side getting the signals and getting out of the huddle.  Everybody is much quicker and better," Nutt added.

"They used a lot of energy in the first 15 periods.  They were really moving and excited about being out here."

One player who Nutt is happy to have out on the field is senior defensive end Greg Hardy.  Hardy injured his right foot, which had previously undergone surgery following the 2008 football season, in a car accident near Pontotoc, Miss., on July 11.

"He did well. I am just so glad he's out here.  He looked good in the first few periods of fundamentals," Nutt said.  "Tim (Mullins - Athletic Trainer) just wants us to gauge him, and get him ready gradually.  We can't rush him into it and let him go full practice right now."

Nutt mentioned a few of the newcomers by name when asked about heralded signees Pat Patterson (wide receiver) and Bobby Massie (offensive lineman).

"They both looked good, we are really proud of those guys.  Terrell Grant from Cleveland, Miss., and Ja-Mes Logan (Houston, Texas) looked good. Those three wide-outs are very good.  Raymond Cotton (quarterback) did some good things. Z. Mason was outstanding at tight end.  D.T. Shackelford and Joel Kight (at linebacker) looked really good.  Tim Simon did some good things as did Charles Sawyer.  I was watching all of them close, and they all did some good things."

The Rebels will hold their annual media day Tuesday at the IPF on the Ole Miss campus. Nutt will start the day with a 9 a.m. press conference, followed by Snead at the podium.  The rest of the players and assistant coaches will meet with the media at 10 a.m.  Nutt's press conference will be available on RebelVision.

Ole Miss will hold its second practice of the fall on Tuesday at 5:45 p.m., on the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Practice is open to the public through the remainder of the week.  The Rebels kick off the 2009 season against the Memphis Tigers on Sept. 6 at 2:30 p.m., at Liberty Bowl Stadium in Memphis.