‘Who doesn’t want to play for him?’ Pete Golding is different. Just ask his players.

Few know Pete Golding better than Brandon Turnage.

Golding offered Turnage as a 10th-grader at Lafayette (Mississippi) High School. He was the Alabama defensive coordinator at the time. Turnage committed, signed and left home (Oxford) because of Golding. He was a four-star prospect from Lafayette High School.

Golding had Turnage at safety for two years in Tuscaloosa. They went to a national title game together in 2021. It’s only fitting, then, Turnage finish his career with him at Ole Miss after his multi-year stop at Tennessee.

“Me and coach Golding have had a relationship for, man, almost seven, eight years,” Turnage said Thursday on the Ole Miss Spirit’s ‘Ivey League’ podcast. “Since I met him in high school, he’s been the same, exact person. A great person, a hilarious person and a great mentor. A very understanding person.

“Who doesn’t want to play for him? You’re not going to be a perfect person, and he understands that. He always sticks in your corner.”

Pete Golding is different @bturnage1k: “Who doesn’t want to play for him? You’re not going to be perfect. He understands that and always sticks in your corner.”@jared_ivey1595 @CoachGolding @OMSpiritOn3 https://t.co/QeqyU8550g https://t.co/AcJLpQEPTA pic.twitter.com/3yhi1GcPvz

— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) August 16, 2024

Golding is in his second season leading the Ole Miss defense.

Turnage had 48 tackles, 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception as a Volunteer. He appeared in 12 games last season and finished with nine tackles.

“I think keeping it real and keeping it genuine is really hard to find these days in athletics,” third-year star Ole Miss defender and ‘Ivey League’ host, Jared Ivey, said. “A guy like PG, he’s just so unfiltered and raw and himself all the time. On top of that, you pair that with the level of knowledge and understanding that he has of the game.

“The duplicity of that is hard to find anywhere else — where you feel like you can be yourself, but at the same time there’s time to lock it in.

“You feel like you’re always learning something, man.”

Turnage and Golding’s final ride first requires Turnage getting off the injured list.

Ole Miss is closing out its third full week of preseason practices. The Rebels practiced outside in pads on Friday. They open their expectations-filled 2024-25 season against Furman in two weeks.

Turnage has been limited in camp with a pulled groin.

“I’ve been pretty much everywhere and seen a lot of things,” Turnage said. “I said, ‘Why not come home?’ I can have more support. My people don’t have to drive 14 hours there and back to see me play.

“But also coming home to play for a coach I’ve already had before. It was a perfect situation.”