[Tuck4Bama]

OXFORD — Ole Miss' wounded defense will have to play without its most experienced linebacker at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Sophomore Jonathan Cornell will be sidelined because of an injury he sustained last week against Missouri. Cornell hurt his shoulder late in the first quarter and was replaced by Jamie Phillips and Brandon Thomas the rest of the game.

Cornell's injury thins a position with little depth. Coach Ed Orgeron said Ole Miss will try to experiment with players at linebacker this week, but declined to elaborate.

But the obvious choice to slide down - strong safety Jamarca Sanford - won't move. Sanford played linebacker late last season in a crunch. Orgeron believes Sanford would be Ole Miss' "best linebacker," but said the junior would stay put - sort of.

Sanford won't be answer at LB