OXFORD — Ole Miss not only will have a new look on the sidelines during the 2008 season, but former Franklin County standout Marcus Tillman said the new coaching staff is bringing a new energy as well.

Specifically, last season was tough for Tillman despite an increase in tackles from 22 to 41 from his freshman to sophomore season.

“Last season let me down,” Tillman said. “I thought we were going to do better than we did. If someone watched the games, they’d know how close we were to turning our season around.”

With Houston Nutt taking over for Orgeron, a newfound excitement is surrounding the team.

“I think he’s a good guy,” Tillman said of Nutt. “He’s going to let the coaches coach. He brings a lot of energy to the team.

“Coach Nutt tries to make you feel excited about being able to play the game.”

With a new coaching staff comes new expectations.

“I’m expecting us to come together more,” Tillman said, “and believe we can do it.”

Along with Nutt, Tillman said he likes his new coaches in defensive line coach Tracy Rocker and defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix.

“(Nix) is tough. He’s just a tough guy,” Tillman said. “He’s what you want in a defensive coordinator.”

In Rocker, Tillman has the chance to learn from a former Auburn standout.

“I think he’s a good defensive line coach,” Tillman said. “It’s always a big plus to have a guy that stood out (coaching you).”

Over the course of the summer Tillman has been working out and taking Spanish and psychology classes.

During his free time in Oxford Tillman goes bowling, to the movie theater and plays NCAA Football.

Although he said running back Cordera Eason is probably the best player on the team at NCAA Football, Tillman said he’s one of the best and always plays with Ole Miss.

Will new coach mean new results?

Tillman’s first two seasons at Ole Miss did not go as he would have hoped.

When former position coach Shawn Slocumb recruited the Franklin County High product, Tillman spurned LSU for the chance to help resurrect a once proud program at Ole Miss.

Two years later, while LSU has been a fixture in the national spotlight, the Rebels struggled to close-out games and remain relevant in the Southeastern Conference.

Part of what drew Tillman to Oxford was the chance to play for a coach in Ed Orgeron who had success turning defensive linemen into All-Americans and NFL draft picks.

“(The selling point) was getting coached by a guy who’d coached a bunch of All-Americans and a guy who was going to take care of us,” Tillman said.

During his freshman, he made an immediate impact disrupting opposing offenses — and he was doing it out of position.

Tillman had been recruited as a defensive end, but due to injury and depth issues, Tillman played a bulk of the season at defensive tackle.

“At first it was real tough,” Tillman said of changing positions. “When I got better with my hands, it got a little easier and then I got stronger.”

To Tillman, the biggest difference between the positions was the fact that while on the interior line you’re surrounded by other players, at end you’re able to have more space to attack the offense.

At the end of the season, Tillman was rewarded for his play by being named a Freshman All-American.

“It was a big compliment,” Tillman said. “I was hoping to have a better season than I had, but I’m glad to see people believe in me.”