‘We’re a big family in that room’: New faces in the Ole Miss linebacker group are fitting in nicely

The Ole Miss defense saw the most attrition in roster turnover form last season to fall camp causing the need for chemistry and team-gelling to go max speed ahead of start of the season.

In the linebacker room there are new faces with Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste and Monty Montgomery coming into the fold along with Ole Miss returners Ashanti Cistrunk and Khari Coleman.

The need to avoid the chemistry woes that head coach Lane Kiffin and other players have noted as contributors to how the team handled the late-season skid is strong.

But when it comes to the Ole Miss linebackers room the meshing and comradery seems to have already gotten off to a strong start.

“I feel like we’re a whole bunch of dogs,” Jean-Baptiste said following Saturday’s practice. “We’re a big family in that room and I love them.”

A pretty strong and ringing endorsement for the entire room, which is led by defensive coordinator Pete Golding. Having Golding as their position coach is helping Jean-Baptiste and the rest of the group to understand and get a grasp of the new defensive scheme quicker.

During Kiffin’s fall camp-opening press conference on Wednesday he noted that when all 11 starters on defense are on the field at times that 10 of them are players who were not on the roster a season ago.

This is not concerning to Jean-Baptiste who acknowledges he and most of his teammates were on completely different teams months or even a few weeks ago, but experience is the key.

“I feel like the transfers, we’re all a bunch of veteran guys. So, we have a bunch of snaps under our belt,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I wouldn’t say it’s very challenging. Being able to communicate on the defensive side of the ball makes things a lot smoother. Us being veterans, I feel like it’s not as challenging as it would be for incoming guys who got to get used to communicating as one.”

There is one brand new incoming guy to the Ole Miss defense that is getting rave reviews by his teammates.

Freshman Suntarine Perkins has gotten everybody’s attention since he made it to campus in the summer for workouts.

Three practices into fall camp and Perkins is looking impressive with the rest of the linebackers. He has been working mostly with the third string defense in drills and offense versus defense periods.

Last month at the Southeastern Conference Media Days Kiffin said Perkins will be getting important playing time and find his way onto the field sooner than later.

Perkins’ teammates have similar sentiments.

“Kid’s going to be a baller, man,” Jean-Baptiste said. “I love his high energy and motor, man. He’s going to be a great player for this defense.”

As for Jean-Baptiste and his own growth on a new team and a new defense his confidence is just as high for himself as it is for Perkins’ future prospects. The ability to communicate is important to the Central Florida transfer.

“Through three practice I feel like I’m adjusting well,” Jean-Baptiste said. “Being able to play fast and being able to communicate with the other guys on defense. So, I’d say I’m doing pretty good.”

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