Jeff Scott participates in the Walk of Champions before last Saturday’s game.
Photo by Alex Edwards | The Daily Mississippian
Ole Miss will welcome another strong Southeastern Conference defense to Oxford this weekend in No. 6 LSU. The Tigers, a program known for their defense for years, will bring the fourth-best total defense in the conference giving up just 348.9 yards per game. LSU also has the fourth best scoring defense in the conference, giving up 22 points per game.
“(LSU defensive coordinator John) Chavis has been around for years and knows exactly what he wants to do,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said. “He has the athletes there to do it. I know their offense is getting a lot of ink, but I think everyone understands the type of defense that is expected at LSU. Nothing has changed this year, they still have those athletes over there.”
On defense LSU is led by Lamin Barrow who leads the team in total tackles with 49. D.J. Welter is next in line with 36.
Scott likely out
With senior running back and punt returner Jeff Scott likely out for Saturday’s game with a lingering thigh bruise, Ole Miss will be forced to fill a huge hole and needs players to step up and fill the void. Sophomores I’Tavius Mathers and Jaylen Walton will most likely get the majority of the carries out of the backfield, and Freeze said senior Korvic Neat will assume the duties of returning punts, with sophomore Trae Elston as another potential.
“I don’t expect Jeff, he didn’t practice yesterday or today so it would be hard for me to put him out there in front of those other kids,” Freeze said. “I think both (Walton and Mathers) have proven that they are ready to have that responsibility when it comes their way. I think we’ll be fine there.”
Mathers has 137 yards rushing on the year and Walton is close behind with 129. Both have one touchdown.
This will be the first time Neat returns punts this season. He was the main returner last year for Ole Miss with 82 yards. Elston has yet to return a punt in his Ole Miss career.
