2008 Ole Miss Rebels - Recruiting Class

Ole Miss Rebels 2008 Head Coach: Houston Nutt

Ole Miss Rebels

2008 Recruiting Class

Star of the Class

Patrick Trahan LB 6-3 225 New Orleans, La. St. Augustine; Auburn; Northwest Mississippi C.C.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: A National Junior College Athletic Association second-team All-America in 2007 ... Credited with 96 tackles, 14 losses, six sacks, four forced fumbles and one INT in 2007 ... Rated the No. 13 JUCO player in the nation by SuperPrep ... Ranked the No. 2 JUCO player in the state by The Clarion-Ledger ... Coached by Randy Pippin ...  AUBURN: Redshirted as a freshman at in 2005 ... Played in 12 games for the Tigers in 2006, recording 11 tackles and 1.0 TFL ... HIGH SCHOOL: Totaled 120 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and caused 10 fumbles as a senior ... Made 66 tackles, 16 sacks and forced nine fumbles as a junior ... Earned first-team All-State and All-District honors ... A member of the Mobile Press-Register Super Southeast 120... Named to the Tom Lemming and SuperPrep All-Southwest Teams

Potential Instant Impact Players

Enrique Davis RB 6-1 215 Lynn Haven, Fla. A. Crawford Mosley; Hargrave
PREP SCHOOL: Signed with Auburn in 2007, but did not enroll ... Rated the No. 1 postgraduate player in the nation by  Scout.com ... Coached by Robert Prunty ... HIGH SCHOOL: A Parade Magazine All-American ... Rushed for 1,293 yards and 16 scores as a senior ... Totaled 1,817 yards and 24 touchdowns his junior year ... Selected to play in the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl after his senior season ... Named to the Florida Sports Writers Association 4A All-State third team ... Named a PrepStar "Dream Team" recruit ... Ranked the No. 3 RB in the nation by PrepStar ... Selected to the Atlanta Journal Constitution's Super Southern 100 and the Orlando Sentinel's Top 100 ... Named to the Florida Super 75 by the Florida Times Union and All-County by the Panama City News Herald his senior year ...  Ranked 64th on the Mobile Press Register's Super Southeast 120

Julian Whitehead DB 5-10 180 Lilburn, Ga. Parkview; Hargrave
PREP SCHOOL: Credited with 25 tackles, eight PBUs and four INTs ... Coached by Robert Prunty ... HIGH SCHOOL: Recorded 36 tackles, seven PBUs and two INTs as a junior ... Named All-County ... Missed his senior season due to injury ... Played freshman and sophomore seasons at Stephenson High School ... Coached at Parkview by Cecil Flowe ... Coached at Stephenson by Ron Gartrell ... Also ran track.

Rest of the Class

Ferbia Allen	DE/TE	6-5	225	Pine Bluff, Ark.	Dollarway
Brandon Bolden	RB	5-11	215	Baton Rouge, La.	Scotlandville Magnet
E.J. Epperson	TE	6-3	230	Humboldt, Tenn.	Humboldt
Brandon Green	C	6-2	315	Southaven, Miss.	Southaven; Northwest Miss C.C.
H.R. Greer	FB	6-0	225	Olive Branch, Miss.	Southern Baptist Education Center
Gerald Harris	TE	6-5	245	Terrell, Texas	Terrell; Navarro College
Melvin Harris	WR	6-6	185	Buford, Ga.	Buford
Aaron Hawkins	OL	6-3	315	Lithonia, Ga.	Martin Luther King
Lekenwic Haynes	DB	6-3	200	Rosenberg, Texas	B.F. Terry
Jason Jones	LB	6-2	220	Albany, Ga.	Westover
Randall Mackey	ATH	6-1	180	Bastrop, La.	Bastrop
Demareo Marr	DB	6-2	180	Southaven, Miss.	Desoto Central; Northwest Miss C.C.
Hunter Miller	DB	6-1	185	Sherwood, Ark.	Sylvan Hills
Jared Mitchell	DB	6-3	190	Chesterfield, Mo.	Parkway Central; Hargrave
Gerald Rivers	DE	6-5	240	Ellenwood, Ga.	Cedar Grove
Brandon Sanders	DB	6-0	190	Suwanee, Ga.	Peachthree Ridge
Andre Sterling	RB	5-10	200	Knoxville, Tenn.	Farragut
Justin Smith	DL	6-4	280	Alpharetta, Ga.	Chattahoochee
Nathan Stanley	QB	6-5	195	Tahlequah, Okla.	Sequoyah
Emmanuel Stephens	DE	6-2	220	Houston, Texas	Waltrip; Blinn C.C.
Joshua Tatum	OL	6-5	315	Marbury, Ala.	Marbury
Devin Thomas	RB	5-11	195	San Antonio, TX	Madison
Kermit Tyler	OL	6-4	335	Marrero, La.	L.W. Higgins
Chris Wilkes	QB	6-4	220	Orlando, Fla.	Dr. Phillips
Horatio Williams	WR	6-2	175	Oxford, Miss.	Oxford

- 2007 Ole Miss Season
- 2007 Ole Miss Preview
- 2006 Ole Miss Season

2007 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 5-7
2007 Record: 3-9

Sept. 1 at Memphis W 23-21
Sept. 8 Missouri L 38-25
Sept. 15 at Vanderbilt L 31-17
Sept. 22 Florida L 30-24
Sept. 29 at Georgia L 45-17
Oct. 6 Louisiana Tech W 24-0
Oct. 13 Alabama L 27-24
Oct. 20 Arkansas L 44-8
Oct. 27 at Auburn L 17-3
Nov. 3 NW State W 38-31
Nov. 17 LSU L 41-24
Nov. 24 at Miss St L 17-14

2008 Early Lookahead
Why to get excited: It's not like Ed Orgeron was kicked out with an empty cupboard. He did a decent job of bringing in some good talents at key spots, and Houston Nutt will benefit. As long as his head is screwed on straight, Greg Hardy will be one of the nation's premier pass rushers and the star of a defense loaded with experience. Michael Oher's decision to return for one more year gives Nutt a strong O line to work around.
Why to be grouchy: The road schedule is harsh playing at Wake Forest, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and LSU. There's a ton of experience back on both sides of the ball, but is there a lot of talent compared to the rest of the SEC? The West is nasty, and it'll be hard to make a quick move up in the standings unless there's a huge improvement in just about every area. With all the veterans coming back, many Rebel fans will be hoping for miracles from Nutt, but they'll have to wait a little bit.
The number one thing to work on is: Getting the new backfield transfers in place. Texas transfer Jevan Snead has to take the quarterback job by the reins from day one, and UCLA transfer Jeremy McGee and Cordera Eason have to replace BenJarvus Green-Ellis. The offense has to start scoring. It moved the ball at times, but closing was a huge problem averaging a mere 20 points per game.
Biggest offensive loss: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Biggest defensive loss: CB Nate Banks
Best returning offensive player: OT Michael Oher, Sr.
Best returning defensive player: DE Greg Hardy, Jr.

2007 Recap
Recap: Shortly after going 3-9 and failing to win a league game for the first time since 1982, Ole Miss pulled the plug on Ed Orgeron, a failed three-year experiment with an inexperienced head coach.  The Rebels came close to a statement win in games against Florida and Alabama, but couldn’t close either deal, beating only Memphis, Louisiana Tech, and Northwestern State.  In the end, little went right for a wayward program that finished dead last in the SEC in total offense and total defense.           

Offensive Player of the Year: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis

Defensive Player of the Year: DE Greg Hardy

Biggest Surprise: It came in a loss, but Ole Miss was at its best on Sept. 22, putting a scare into the Gators for four quarters before falling short, 30-24.  At least for one day, the Rebels consistently moved the ball on offense, getting 302 yards and two touchdown passes from Seth Adams.  If they played all year the way they pushed Florida on that Saturday afternoon, the Rebs would have flirted with a .500 season.      

Biggest Disappointment: In a microcosm of Orgeron’s tenure, Ole Miss couldn’t put away Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, squandering a two-touchdown lead in the final quarter of a painful 17-14 loss.  To add insult to injury, the collapse ensured a bowl game for the rival Bulldogs, who desperately needed to lock down win No. 7.    

Looking Ahead: With Houston Nutt replacing Orgeron on the sidelines, Ole Miss is already off to a positive start in the offseason.  The former Arkansas coach knows his way around the SEC West, and could be inheriting the school’s best pure passer, Texas transfer Jevan Snead, since Eli Manning left Oxford for the NFL.

Nov. 23
Mississippi State 17 ... Ole Miss 14
Adam Carlson connected on a 48-yard field goal with 12 seconds to play to cap a wild comeback in the MSU win. Ole Miss got out to a 14-0 lead with a 14-yard BenJarvus Green-Ellis run and a 13-yard Shay Hodge catch, but then the roof caved in. With only four first downs up until midway through the fourth quarter, the Bulldog defense came through with a fourth and one stop and the offense capitalized going 46 yards in six plays with Anthony Dixon running for a four-yard score. With just 2:38 to play, Derek Pegues tied it with a 75-yard punt return, and MSU won it by going 34 yards in six plays. The two teams combined to convert just eight of 29 third down conversion attempts.
Player of the game: Mississippi State DB Derek Pegues made three tackles, a tackle for loss and broke up three passes, returned four punts for 75 yards and a touchdown, and returned two kickoffs for 23 yards
Stat Leaders: Mississippi State - Passing: Wesley Carroll, 13-28, 130 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jamayel Smith, 1-27. Receiving: Anthony Dixon
Ole Miss - Passing: Brent Schaeffer, 10-30, 115 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 29-117, 1 TD. Receiving: Shay Hodge, 2-209, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Talk about never coming through in the clutch, Ole Miss couldn't seem to get a break all season long and it cost Ed Orgeron his job. Of course, it didn't do anything to make its own breaks, but it always seemed like every big play went the other way. If didn't help to be unable to get a key fourth and one that ended up opening the floodgates for MSU, or that Brent Schaeffer closed out his career with a 10-of-30 performance. Let MSU be the guide for Ole Miss. This isn't a much better team, but it got the one or two big plays in key moments to come up with a winning season. Consistency at quarterback might be all that separates the Rebels from a good 2008.

Nov. 17
LSU 41 ... Ole Miss 24
LSU took control of the game when Trindon Holliday answered a 44-yard Marshay Green punt return for a score with a  98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but Ole Miss battled within ten in the fourth quarter on a 38-yard Brent Schaeffer dash, and again on a 33-yard Shay Hodge catch with less than three minutes to play. The Tigers finally put the game away on a 29-yard Charles Scott run on the ensuing drive. Ole Miss outgained LSU 466 yards to 396, but turned the ball over four times, while not forcing any takeaways.
Player of the game: LSU S Craig Steltz made five tackles and intercepted two passes
Stat Leaders: LSU - Passing: Matt Flynn, 17-25, 168 yds
Rushing: Charles Scott, 3-66, 1 TD. Receiving: Early Doucet, 8-58
Ole Miss - Passing: Brent Schaeffer, 13-28, 208 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Brent Schaeffer, 8-94, 1 TD. Receiving: Dexter McCluster, 5-73
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... :Now that's what Brent Schaeffer should've been doing all along. He's never going to be an efficient passer, but he can make a few big plays here and there, and he has the speed and athleticism to take off and be a weapon to freak out defenses. Against LSU, he kept the Rebels in the game and kept the heat on. This was a stronger game for Ole Miss than the final score might indicate, and while it was fine to lose to LSU like this, is won't be as acceptable against Mississippi State. The offense has to keep the yards rolling, but the turnovers have to stop, or at least slow way down.

Nov. 3
Ole Miss 38 ... Northwestern State 31
BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran for 120 yards with scoring runs from 31, 25 and four yards out on the way to a 38-17 lead, but Ole Miss had to hang on, as NW State scored 14 points late in the fourth to pull within seven. Green-Ellis was able to run out the final 3:16 to preserve the win. The Demons pulled within three in the third quarter on a 16-yard Adam Varnado touchdown catch, but the Rebels answered with a 77-yard kickoff return for a score from Mike Wallace to pull away until the very end. NW State outgained Ole Miss 499 yards to 387.
Player of the game: Ole Miss RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis ran 17 times for 120 yards and three touchdowns.
Stat Leaders: Northwestern State - Passing: Germayne Edmond, 22-30, 250 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Byron Lawrence, 20-82. Receiving: Ben Bailey, 7-84
Ole Miss- Passing: Seth Adams, 7-15, 113 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 17-120, 3 TD. Receiving: Shay Hodge, 4-88, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Finally, BenJarvus Green-Ellis was able to get rolling after being held in check for the last second weeks. That's the good news. The bad news is that Northwestern State rolled up almost 500 yards of total offense on the Rebels and once again, Brent Schaeffer proved he can't be counted on as a passer. If he only completed three of 13 passes against Northwestern State, what is he going to do against LSU in two weeks? The time off is a must for Seth Adams to try to get healthy.

Oct. 27
Auburn 17 ... Ole Miss 3
It took Auburn a little while to get going offensively, but the defense made up for it until Brad Lester scored on a one-yard run in the first quarter for all the points needed. Ole Miss got a 51-yard Joshua Shene field goal as time ran out at the end of the first half, but that would be it for the Rebel fun. Rodgeriqus Smith caught a 34-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth to finally put it out of reach, but the defense never let Ole Miss in the game allowing just 193 yard. The Tigers held on to the ball for 36:23.
Player of the game: Auburn RB Brad Lester ran 23 times for 96 yards and a touchdown
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 11-24, 89 yds
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 13-62. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 5-39
Auburn - Passing: Brandon Cox, 16-26, 189 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Brad Lester, 23-96, 1 TD. Receiving: Rodgeriqus Smith, 8-111, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The offense has gone from bad to non-existent. BenJarvus Green-Ellis isn't getting much room to move, while the passing game has gone bye-bye with Seth Adams struggling to get anything working deep. For the second straight game, Brent Schaeffer came in, and for the second straight game, he showed he's not the answer. Fortunately, Northwestern State is ahead before facing LSU. Now will be the time to bomb away with the passing game to get a little confidence.

Oct. 20
Arkansas 44 ... Ole Miss 8
Arkansas ripped off 293 rushing yards and came up with four interceptions of Seth Adams on the way to the easy win. Felix Jones got the fun started for the Hogs with touchdown runs from 38 and 11 yards out, and Casey Dick threw three touchdown passes, on the way to a 37-0 lead before Ole Miss finally got on the board with a 37-yard Mike Wallace touchdown catch from Brent Schaeffer. Jones and Darren McFadden each went over 100 yards rushing.
Player of the game: Arkansas RB Felix Jones ran 15 times for 101 yards and two touchdowns
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss - Passing: Brent Schaeffer, 5-13, 103 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 15-84. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 4-57, 1 TD
Arkansas - Passing: Casey Dick, 11-17, 96 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Darren McFadden, 22-110. Receiving: Peyton Hillis, 4-60, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... And now there's a quarterback issue again. Seth Adams can't stop throwing interceptions, with ten in the last three games, and Brent Schaeffer showed once again that he just isn't a consistent SEC quarterback. With the offensive line struggling so much against the Arkansas pass rush, the quarterbacks never had much of a chance. Good luck next week with that trip to Auburn and its killer D line.

Oct. 13
Alabama 27 ... Ole Miss 24
In a wild game, Alabama scored ten points in the final 7:11 on a three-yard Terry Grant touchdown and a 24-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, and then had to hold on, as a big Ole Miss pass play in the final seconds was called back after replay ruled that Shay Hodge had stepped out of bounds before making the grab. The Rebels got two Seth Adams touchdown passes, with Dexter McCluster making an eight-yard scoring grab in the first, and Michael Hicks scoring from 17 yards out in the third, while Alabama kept pace in the first half with short scoring runs from Glen Coffee and John Parker Wilson.
Player of the game: In a losing cause, Ole Miss DE Greg Hardy made 13 tackles, three sacks, 4.5 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles, and broke up a pass
Stat Leaders: Alabama - Passing: John Parker Wilson, 26-40, 265 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Terry Grant, 16-62, 1 TD. Receiving: D.J. Hall, 11-140
Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 22-40, 284 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 20-131. Receiving: Dexter McCluster, 7-75, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... The Rebel fans have to be pulling their hair out. The team is so, so close to turning things around with a big home win, losing in a battle with Florida a few weeks ago, and losing to Alabama late this week. There are several signs of improvement, with Greg Hardy and the defensive front doing a great job against the Tide running game, while getting into the backfield for several pressures and big stops. Seth Adams is throwing well, even if he's also giving away interceptions. It seems like the team is one big break from turning things around, but it had better happen soon or else a bowl shot will be gone.

Oct. 6
Ole Miss 24 ... Louisiana Tech 0
Ole Miss got a 28-yard touchdown catch from Dexter McCluster on its third play from scrimmage, and got a score in every quarter with Shay Hodge catching a 17-yard scoring pass in the third and Dustin Mouzon taking a blocked 55-yard field goal for a score in the fourth. The Ole Miss defense controlled the game, allowing just 301 yards of total offense, but Louisiana Tech killed itself, too, with two fumbles and 13 penalties. Ole Miss was even worse on offense, amassing just 232 yards.
Player of the game: Ole Miss LB Ashlee Palmer had 15 tackles, a tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery.
Stat Leaders: Louisiana Tech - Passing: Zac Champion, 16-27, 144 yds
Rushing: Daniel Porter, 8-51. Receiving: Anthony Harrison, 5-40
Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 16-32, 167 yds, 2 TDs, 3 INTs
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 14-54. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 5-72
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... 232 yards of total offense?! Against LSU or Florida, fine, but Louisiana Tech? The offensive line didn't do anything to get BenJarvus Green--Ellis room to move, while Seth Adams and hit three interceptions almost proved costly, except for the play of the defense to save the day. The Rebels simply aren't good enough to have a letdown, but it won, and now it can focus on Alabama.

Sept. 29
Georgia 45 ... Ole Miss 17
Ole Miss scored first on a 45-yard Mike Wallace touchdown catch, and then Thomas Brown took over. The Georgia back tore off a 50-yard touchdown run for the first of his three scores on the day. With the game tied at 17 late in the third, the Bulldogs cranked out 28 unanswered points with brown scoring from four and 41 yards out and Knowshown Moreno and Fred Munzenmaier each running for short scores. The Bulldogs outgained the Rebels 328 yards to 158 on the ground.
Player of the game: Georgia RB Thomas Brown ran 16 times for 180 yards and three touchdowns, and caught a pass for 11 yards
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 24-35, 228 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 22-108, 1 TD. Receiving: Shay Hodge, 6-77
Georgia - Passing: Matthew Stafford, 13-21, 144 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Thomas Brown, 16-180, 3 TD. Receiving: Mo Massaquoi, 3-29, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... After hanging tough against Florida, the Rebels did a good job of staying with Georgia for about 40 minutes, but the offense couldn't stop the Bulldog momentum late, and Seth Adams couldn't keep the chains moving when the team needed a big drive. BenJarvus Green-Ellis had a nice day running the ball, but with the problems the Rebel run defense had, he had to do even more to carry the offense.

Sept. 22
Florida 30 ... Ole Miss 24
Florida got up 27-9 on two Tim Tebow touchdown runs and a 19-yard pass play to Percy Harvin, but had to hang on as Ole Miss rallied late in the third quarter on a Seth Adams 19-yard touchdown pass to Shay Hodge, and a 77-yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace. The Gators were able to get up by six late on a 25-yard Joey Ijjas field goal, and then the defense held as Ole Miss couldn't get a first down on its final drive. The two teams combined to commit 24 penalties for 197 yards.
Player of the game: Florida QB Tim Tebow completed 20 of 34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns, and ran 27 carries for 166 yards and two scores
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 18-31, 302 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 11-37. Receiving: Shay Hodge, 7-81, 1 TD
Florida - Passing: Tim Tebow, 20-34, 261 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Tim Tebow, 27-166, 2 TD. Receiving: Percy Harvin, 11-121, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Rebel fans have to be tearing their hair out. If Seth Adams could throw effectively against Florida, where have the big plays been when BenJarvus Green-Ellis has been been running well? If nothing else, the quarterback situation should finally be cemented; Adams has to be the guy for the foreseeable future and there doesn't need to be any major changes. Of course, to Ole Miss to be at its best, it needs a balance, and it didn't get it this week with the Gators swallowing up Green-Ellis and the Rebel ground game.

Sept. 15
Vanderbilt 31 ... Ole Miss 17
Vanderbilt got three short touchdown runs from Cassen Jackson-Garrison, and Chris Nickson added a three yard scoring dash in the win. Ole Miss never got the ground game going, being held to 54 net yards rushing, but managed to stay in the game on Mike Wallace touchdown catches from 36 and 54 yards out. Up only seven, Vandy forced Ole Miss to go for it on fourth down from its own 21, but Brent Schaeffer was sacked, and the two plays later, Jackson-Garrison ran seven yards for a score to put the game away. The Commodores sacked Ole Miss quarterbacks six times.
Player of the game: Vanderbilt RB Cassen Jackson-Garrison ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, and had a reception for nine yards.
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 10-17, 154 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 21-66. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 4-139, 2 TDs
Vanderbilt - Passing: Chris Nickson, 17-25, 200 yds
Rushing: Cassen Jackson-Garrison, 23-119, 3 TDs. Receiving: Earl Bennett, 11-100
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Ole Miss appears to be on the right track overall, but the Ed Orgeron era might officially be on double secret probation. You don't lose to Vanderbilt. You don't lose to Vanderbilt. You don't lose to Vanderbilt. Sure, the Commodores are strong this year, but the Rebels needed to win this game to have any reasonable hope of going to a bowl. Now with Florida and Georgia coming up, things could get worse before they get better. There are plenty of problems, but for now, the quarterback job has to be all Seth Adams all the time. Brent Schaeffer showed again that he simply can't do much of anything for the passing game.

Sept. 8
Missouri 38 ... Ole Miss 25
Missouri cranked out 28 points in the second quarter on four Chase Daniel touchdown passes with two to Will Franklin, a 40-yarder to Martin Rucker, and a seven-yard strike to Chase Coffman. A 37-yard Daniel scoring play to Greg Bracey on the opening drive of the second half made it 35-7, but Ole Miss made it interesting as Seth Adams threw three touchdown passes, including a 68-yarder to Mike Wallace, and BenJarvis Green-Ellis ran for a two-yard score, and 226 yards, but the Tiger defense held on with a fourth down stop, a forced punt, and an interception.
Player of the game: Missouri QB Chase Daniel was 31-of-42 for 330 yards and five touchdowns, while rushing for 55 yards on 11 carries.
Stat Leaders: Missouri - Passing: Chase Daniel, 31-42, 330 yds, 5 TDs
Rushing: Tony Temple, 17-123. Receiving: William Franklin, 8-105, 2 TDs
Ole Miss - Passing: Seth Adams, 23-41, 305 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 33-226, 1 TD. Receiving: Mike Wallace, 7-136, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... While it's never a positive to lose at home, even against a great team like Missouri, there are several big positives to get excited about going into the SEC season. BenJarvus Green-Ellis was tremendous as both a workhorse and a focal point. The bigger key was the passing of Seth Adams, who bombed away in comeback mode and got the Rebels back into the game. The offense couldn't do anything on three late drives, but this was still a great day for the offense. Now the defense has to start generating some pressure into the backfield and the secondary has to improve in a big hurry.

Sept. 1
Ole Miss 23 ... Memphis 21
In yet another great game before Memphis and Ole Miss, the Rebel defense came through with a stop on a two-point conversion attempt with :31 to play. Down 23-0 late in the third quarter, Memphis came roaring back as Joe Doss ran for a one-yard score and Matt Malouf ran for a four-yard touchdown before Martin Hankins found Duke Calhoun for an eight-yard score in the final moments. The Rebel offense struggled, but got a blocked punt for a score and a 99-yard Dustin Mouzon interception return for a touchdown. Greg Hardy started off the scoring with a 16-yard catch for the Rebels.
Player of the game ... Ole Miss CB Dustin Mouzon had six tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and two interceptions, one of which went for a 99-yard touchdown.
Stat Leaders: Ole Miss- Passing: Seth Adams, 19-30, 201 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, 23-79  Receiving: Marshay Green, 5-59
Memphis - Passing: Martin Hankins, 41-60, 343 yds, 1 TD, 4 INTs
Rushing: Joseph Doss, 14-59, 1 TD  Receiving: Duke Calhoun, 10-87, 1 TD
Whoopty doo. What does it all mean, Basil? ... Ole Miss will take any win it can get, but it can't be happy with the way Memphis was able to get into the game late, and it really can't be happy with how the offense struggled throughout. BenJarvus Green-Ellis didn't get much in the way of running room, and Seth Adams, while decent, wasn't spectacular under center. However, decent might be good enough for the Rebel attack right now. Adams needs to be steady, and he was certainly that. The pass defense struggled once Memphis got down and had to bomb away, and there might be huge problems against Missouri next week without more of a pass rush.