Meat, Not Potato: Ole Miss linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk in search of next gear this spring

Everybody likes stories of “meat” players on any football team, not just Ole Miss.

The stars, the main course, the top attractions.

But it’s the “potato” players who fill you up and have a vital role in winning games.

Without them, most teams would not survive, much less thrive.

No Ole Miss football player has personified that side dish role for the past four years more than senior Linebacker Ashanti Cistrunk.

He’s a four- year letterman who has played an important role in every single game since he has been on campus either on special teams or as a backup linebacker.

How important? During he 2022 season, Cistrunk only garnered one start when Troy Brown was injured, but somehow he managed to register 72 tackles on the year, 5th on the team, sandwiched between veteran safeties A.J. Finley and Isheem Young.

Now, he’s aiming to lean behind the french fry position in the linebacker room and become the prime rib of the LB corp.

Cistrunk, who has an ideal LB frame at 6-1 230 pounds, has a new lease on his football life – a new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in Pete Golding.

There’s no predetermined judgment, just a fresh start, which he relishes.

“It’s been good. He’s a real funny guy who treats us fairly,” said Ashanti. “I’m glad he’s here. There’s a lot to learn to get his 4-2 down, but we are only four practices in. We will get it.”

PRACTICE REPORT: Our first impressions of a work-in-progress Ole Miss defense during spring football

There are new faces in the Ole Miss linebacker room.

Cistrunk, though, is used to that on a yearly basis now that the transfer portal has become an every-year happening.

Two years ago, he adapted to Chance Campbell and Mark Robinson. Last season, he meshed with newcomers Troy Brown and Khari Coleman, who is currently running first team with Ashanti.

This spring and season, he will be inked with newcomers Monty Montgomery and Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, who plays the same position Ashanti does.

“We’re just learning from each other and figuring out what each of us does well,” he continued. “It’s a bonding process. It’s going well.”

For Cistrunk, the next step in spring is cut and dried in his mind.

“The first thing is to get the defense down. Learn all the ins and outs,” noted the Louisville (MS) native. “The next step is trying to dominate.”

Cistrunk is a man of few words, but it’s obvious he’s driven to get the most out of his athletic ability.

The finance major is fighting hard to take the next step in his evolution. . . .

. . . . to become some of the meat on the Rebel football team.

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