SCRIMMAGE REPORT: What did we learn about Ole Miss’ QB competition on Saturday? Let’s go to the numbers.

Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin took what looked to be an injury-riddled Rebel squad through a 2 ½ hour scrimmage today in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

It was difficult to assess who was and who wasn’t available, but on the defensive sideline – for example – there were only 32 available players dressed in their Red jerseys.

The offensive sideline was not as depleted, but they were missing multiple players as well, such as Jordan Watkins, Tre Harris, Micah Pettus, Dayton Wade, Jeremy James and Jayden Williams.

The players who did participate produced enough highlights to make the day interesting, but it seemed more like a practice to get film on as many players as possible and evaluate from there in the first scrimmage of this version of spring training.

At quarterback, Jaxson Dart, running with the number one offense, completed 8-12 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown. He also gained 31 yards on 3 carries on the day.

Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders threw full throttle today.

He completed 11-21 tosses for 129 yards, a TD and 1 pick. Sanders also rushed 6 times for 29 yards.

Walker Howard, running with the twos and threes most of the day, was 11-17 for 120 yards, 1 TD and 1 interception through the air and had 5 rushes for -4 yards due to a pair of sacks.

Quinshon Judkins led the Rebel rushers with 8 carries for 37 yards and a pair of 2-yard touchdowns. Ulysses Bentley IV had 6 totes for 30 yards and Matt Jones carried the ball 6 times for 52 yards including a 38-yard touchdown.

WR Jalen Knox had a reverse for 13 yards and WR J.J. Henry has 2 carries for 28 yards. Backup RB Fred McAfee was the workhorse on the day with 10 carries for 35 yards with the third team.

Ole Miss spring football practice at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 1, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

Judkins and Bentley did not participate in the full contact portion of the workout late in the day.

Henry led the way in receiving with 4 catches for 96 yards including a 27-yard TD. Chris Marshall also had 4 snags for 46 yards while Bralon Brown had 4 for 62 and Brandon Buckhalter had 4 catches for 43 yards including a 25 yard touchdown.

TE Michael Trigg captured 3 aerials for 67 yards and Knox caught a 25-yard touchdown pass.

On defense, S Trey Washington led the way with 6 tackles while 4 players added 4 stops each – LB Khari Coleman, S A.J. Brown, who also recorded an interception of a Sanders pass, LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and DT Demarcus Smith.

LB Ashanti Cistrunk added 3 tackles along with Jack LB Jameer Lewis, LB Monty Montgomery, S taylor Groves, S Isheem Young and freshman CB Braxton Myers.

CB Zamari Walton had a pair of pass breakups to go along with a pair of tackles.

PK Caden Costa missed his only field goal attempt, a 48-yarder in a swirling wind, while transfer PK Caden Davis made his only kick, a 40-yard when the wind had died down a little.

There was no live punting.

PHOTOS: Ole Miss on Saturday held its second spring scrimmage. Here’s what it looked like.

Ole Miss spring football practice at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 1, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

SHORT SHOTS …

With Markevious Brown and Deantre Prince out …

… Richard O’Bryant, a sophomore from Brandon we have mentioned a couple of times, was working with the number one defense at one corner and it looked as if he and Walton did nice job of holding their own against a bevy of Rebel receivers. Pretty good coverage for the most part.

It was good to finally see …

… Placekicker Caden Costa back in action after a year-long suspension last season. He hit a couple of PATs and looked good. Backup Punter Charlie Pollock looks to be the main candidate for holding duties on placements.

We didn’t see a whole lot …

… of TE Caden Prieskorn, but he did have 1 reception for 9 yards. The Reb offense mostly went with Trigg in the slot or out wide. Trigg responded with his “spring thing,” making catches with defenders hanging on him and then running over DBs for extra yardage. TE Kyirin Heath also had one nice catch for 13 yards.

Senior DE Jared Ivey …

… is making the most of the extra muscle he put on the offseason. He had a QB sack and a pair of tackles behind the line of scrimmage.

Ole Miss spring football practice at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. on Saturday, April 1, 2023. (©Bruce Newman)

New Defensive Coordinator Pete Golding …

… did a lot of mixing and matching of the available defensive personnel today, at different times putting some second team guys with first team players at different positions. He’s obviously trying to develop depth and see who he can trust when they are thrown in with the “big boys.” LB Jean-Baptiste, , DT Joshua Harris, Jack LB Jameer Lewis, Safety Taylor Groves and CB Braxton Myers all got their shot to mix and mingle with the top defense and there was no noticeable dropoff from a layman’s eye.

There were a few more dropped passes …

… than we suspect WR Coach Derrick Nix would like to see today, but overall it was a good day catching the ball considering some of the top guys are out due to injury. One surprise was transfer Marshall with his 4 catches. He was sure-handed and showed ability to get open on short routes in a hurry.

Freshman Tight End Jayvontay Conner …

… didn’t get a lot of opportunity in the passing game, but when he did, he made the most of it, catching 2 passes for 18 yards. All he needs is some time in the weight room and 20 more pounds and his future will be a good one with the Rebels.

LB Ashanti Cistrunk …

… had limited action today so the coaches could look more at Jean-Baptiste, but when he was in there the senior did his job well, most noticeably chasing down J.J. Henry on a reverse near the sideline for a short gain. Cistrunk has deceptive speed and good ball instincts.

Safety Trey Washington …

… not only led the team in tackles but he broke up 2 passes and was very visible all over the field. He’s waited his turn behind the likes of Otis Reese, A.J. Finley, Jake Springer and Tysheem Johnson. Now it’s his turn and he’s off to a good start proving he belong with the top unit.

Transfer S John Saunders Jr …

… got a lot of work today when it looked like Ladarius Tennison went down with a minor leg injury about a quarter of the way through the scrimmage. Saunders came to Ole Miss as a corner but is playing more safety than corner now. Today, he made a couple of plays that caught one’s attention.

With three probable starters …

… on the offensive line out with injury – Pettus, James, Williams, their replacements did an OK job overall. Cedric Melton was in for Pettus and transfers Quincy McGee and Victor Curne were in for James and Williams, respectively. The offense was mostly effective with the makeshift lineup.

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