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 |
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2007 Ole Miss
Season
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2007 Ole Miss Preview
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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.