Mississippi wide receiver Vince Sanders (10) runs the ball to score a touchdown after receiving a pass from Wallace. Photo by Logan Kirkland
After two extremely tough losses against LSU and Auburn, the Ole Miss football team got back on track against Presbyterian, winning 48-0 in the first shut out victory for the Rebels since 2012.
It was obviously a very important game for the Rebels to win, but there was a big emphasis for the game put on getting players healthy and developing backups and younger players.
“It’s a happy locker room in there. Some of the joyous things that happened today are seeing kids like (freshman defensive back) John Ratliff get a catch, who has spent years as a walk-on in this program, (senior defensive back) Lakedrick King breaking up a pass on third down, (sophomore offensive lineman) Talbot Buys and (senior linebacker) Billy Busch and all those guys that don’t get to experience that week in and week out,” head coach Hugh Freeze said after the game. “It was a lot of fun to see our teammates be successful. It was quite rewarding.”
The depth of Ole Miss was shown Saturday in the shut out victory. The players who don’t normally get any reps during games and practices got the opportunity to shine, and they did.
Posting a shutout on defense, especially with guys that don’t get the opportunity to play, is something the defense can hang their hats on.
“I’m so proud because we got to play so many people; guys that have worked so hard but haven’t had a chance to get a lot of reps like some of them have had in the game,” defensive coordinator Dave Wommack said. “Our team needs depth, and we need the open date this week to get everybody back. It’s harder than you think sometimes to get those shutouts.”
Picking up a much-needed victory after two SEC losses in a row is huge, especially from a confidence standpoint. Freeze feels that the team is in a good place, right now.
“I’m happy to be having wins and be sitting where we are with two conference games left,” Freeze said. “I was able to sit quite a few guys today, and some got very few reps. Hopefully, we’ll be as healthy as we’ve been in a long time in a couple weeks when we travel to Fayetteville.”
The Rebels had a huge day on the ground, racking up a total of 402 yards on 36 carries. Redshirt freshman running back Jordan Wilkins was a huge part of that, getting 171 of those yards and a touchdown on just ten carries.
“Jordan, he was getting hit 20 yards down the field and carrying guys for 10, 15 yards, which is what we wanted,” co-offensive coordinator Dan Werner said. “He’s that type of a back.”
You’ll never know who will be the leading rusher for the Rebels. One game it could be junior running back Jaylen Walton, another it could be senior quarterback Bo Wallace. Wilkins led the team in rushing Saturday in dominating fashion.
Wilkins averaged just over 17 yards per carry and helped a struggling ground game Saturday. Wilkins talked about what he focused on for the game.
“I just wanted to be as physical as I could and run as hard as I could,” Wilkins said.
The offensive line was definitely a huge factor in the Rebels having such a dominant rushing performance, with the backups and younger lineman stepping up to the challenge.
“Obviously, we ran the ball as well as we have in a while, so that was good, and I thought the young guys, when they came in, we were moving the ball well,” Werner said. “Those backs weren’t running without holes, so they obviously did a nice job.”
Wilkins was also very happy with the offensive line’s play.
“They did great, that’s why I’m sitting here right now,” Wilkins said. “I give it all to them. They put up huge holes for us to run through.”
Another notable backup to see extended time during the game was redshirt freshman quarterback Ryan Buchanan. Buchanan completed six out of his seven pass attempts and looked very comfortable running the offense.
Redshirt freshman quarterback DeVante Kincade also played well, with 7 for 8 through the air for 70 yards and one touchdown. Kincade also picked up 34 yards rushing on seven carries.
Buchanan talked about the time he got on the field and how it helps him further on.
“It felt good to really get back on the field,” Buchanan said. “You go through practice a lot and get a lot of reps in practice but finally, to get real reps in the game in front of your home crowd is always fun.”
Freeze liked what he saw of Buchanan from a mental aspect.
“Ryan sees things without us having to tell him,” Freeze said. “He sees what our options are, and he usually makes the right decision, as to which one he’s going to, so that was good.”
