PRACTICE INSIDER: Ole Miss works outside despite heavy rain earlier in the day
Ole Miss took their Tuesday workout to the practice fields despite some moderate-to-heavy rain earlier in the day and had a spirited 2 ½ hour night session. The rain cooled temperatures and actually made the evening practice much more bearable.
Usually in August, the team will “hit the wall” from fatigue and the grind of fall camp, but this team has yet to show any signs of wear and tear and we have not seen a single player succumb to the unusual heat in Oxford and Mississippi yet.
Tuesday night, it was business as usual.
The injury list gained a couple of players. . . .
. . . . as far as green jerseys are concerned and two key players limped off the field during practice. WR Larry Simmons, who was making a move to break into the rotation, hurt his groin yesterday and was in green today. We do not know the extent of the injury. TE Hudson Wolfe was wearing a green jersey today as well.
But we were told by another insider they expected him to be cleared for contact – we will see. WR Jordan Watkins limped off the field near the end of practice and we fear he has reinjured him hamstring that kept him sidelined all of spring. Hopefully we are reading that wrong, but we don’t think so.
RB Ulysses Bentley IV came up lame halfway through practice, but it didn’t seem serious. C Caleb Warren is still in green, but we expect him to be full go by the weekend.
It’s certainly not settled yet, but it seems the choice for starting quarterback, as we have. . . .
. . . . been saying all along, will be junior Jaxson Dart. He’s just been the most consistent, he’s taking all the number one snaps and we have yet to see him turn the ball over in five practices. His accuracy has been off a little here and there, but for the most part he is throwing the ball well and running the offense without major issues.
The coaches are certainly still experimenting with different combinations and different personnel packages. . . .
. . . . but it was interesting today to see Monty Montgomery and Ladarius Tennison take snaps at linebacker with the first team in the full team drill of the day.
They are small in stature, but both like to hit and they have a lot of tonnage in front of them with DEs Jared Ivey and Cedric Johnson, both over 260 pounds, and DTs Joshua Harris and J.J. Pegues, both over 315 pounds.
Seeing Montgomery and Tennison out there together reinforced what we reported the other day – it looks as If DC Pete Golding wants to go with speedier players, at least that’s a big part of his package. Obviously, it will depend on what the opposing team wants to do, but the Rebels are also capable of going “heavy” if necessary.
Florida Atlantic Safety Teja Young, who we have ballyhooed about his obvious speed, should. . . .
. . . . be cleared to go full speed and full contact by the first game, we were told. He has been in green since the start of camp nursing a sore neck. Speaking of speed, Young has it. Also in green is Safety Jadon Canady. We have not heard when he might be back, but in non-contact drills, he has been working with the cornerbacks and not the safeties despite being listed on the roster as a safety.
Hmmmmm.
There is still no word on the eligibility of the latest transfer portal players. . . .
. . . . Cornerback Chris Graves, Linebacker T.J. Dudley and Running Back Jam Griffin are anxiously awaiting to get cleared. As we previously reported, there is a high confidence level in the Manning Center they will be cleared, but it would be good if they could be out there working now.
We understand they are in Oxford awaiting word, but they cannot attend classes or practice until they are cleared.
Running Back Quinshon Judkins has not let stardom and his press clippings change him. . . .
. . . at least on the field. He’s is working as hard now as he ever has and he acts as if he is still trying to earn playing time. What has been noticeable in his game is the work he’s done coming out of the backfield for receiving duties. He’s got quality hands and is comfortable in that capacity.
Let’s delve a little deeper into the Rebel defensive line, which seems to be developing at a rapid pace. . . .
. . . . Where’s the beef? Inside, the Rebels boast of 315-pound J.J. Pegues, 310-pound veteran Stephon Wynn, 325-pound Joshua Harris and 303-pound Zxavian Harris, who has lost 30 pounds but is trying to put some of that back on.
On the outside, in the base 4-man front, Jared Ivey, Cedric Johnson, Jamond Gordon and transfer Isaac Ukwu are handling most of the duties. Ukwu and Johnson, physically, are basically twins at 6-3 260 pounds (Ced is actually 265).
On some passing down situations, Reginald Hughes will come in for Ivey at the Jack position and quick DT Akelo Stone, who transferred in from Georgia Tech, has some specific duties as well.
And there are some quality younger players as well such as DE Chamberlain Campbell, who is 6-7 215 pounds. When he puts on 30-40 pounds, which should be quickly, he will be a player. The Rebels are also happy with DE Deejay Holmes, also a true freshman, who is 6-3 230 now with room to grow. Freshman DT Jamarious Brown has shown good potential as well and Canadian DT Jaden Dicks is finally healthy after dealing with injury basically since he has been at Ole Miss. He’s got a chance too.
Three CBs seem to be shoe-ins, barring injury, to be the top three on this team. . . .
. . . in Deantre Prince, Zamari Walton and DeShawn Gaddie. But who is fourth and fifth? Based on early practice results, freshman A.J. Brown and sophomore Dermarko Williams seem to be the top candidates, but lurking right behind them is sophomore Richard O’Bryant, who had a good spring and forced his way into the picture.
Brown, too, had a good spring when he came in early as a true freshman and his potential is very good. Williams was injured a lot of last season and spring, but is healthy now and seems to have caught the eye of CB Coach Keynodo Hudson.
Sophomore Jarrell Stinson is one of the fastest players on the team, but at 5-9 170 pounds, he has his limits against bigger receivers.
The bottom line? The top three badly need to stay healthy until Brown and Williams hone their skills a bit more, but right now, Williams seems to be the guy the coaches are counting on the most as the 4th corner.
The Rebels will have a walk through practice Wednesday, we were told. . . .
. . . . then will go in full pads Thursday and Friday and then have a closed scrimmage Saturday. From this point on, the media will only be allowed to watch the first four or five periods of each practice, except Saturday, when we won’t be able to see any of the workout.
We will have some leftover notes tomorrow (Wednesday) as well.
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