Mississippi running back Jaylen Walton (6) looks for room past Tennessee defenders during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. No. 3 Mississippi won 34-3. (DM Photo/Payton Teffner)
After beating Tennessee to move to 7-0, the Ole Miss football team is now preparing to face their 24th ranked rivals LSU for the yearly Magnolia Bowl. Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze is 1-1 in his two games against LSU.
“It’s always an exciting time around this place when you enter into a game that is considered to be one of your historical rivals like LSU. They’ve been extremely talented through the years. Coach (Les) Miles has done a phenomenal job there,” Freeze said. “Even though they’ve had some ebbs and flows this season, they seem to be figuring them out quite nicely, and they’re playing their best football of the year.”
The game will be played in Baton Rouge, where Ole Miss lost a close game in Hugh Freeze and quarterback Bo Wallace’s first season.
“I remember the atmosphere. We were playing really well. We were young and really didn’t realize what we were doing. We were out there just playing as hard as we could,” Wallace said. “It’s fun to play down there. I’m looking forward to it.”
Sophomore tight end Evan Engram played LSU for the first time last season, when the Rebels upset the sixth ranked Tigers 27-24. He felt the heightened importance of the rivalry game.
“It definitely means a lot. It’s a rivalry week, and last year was a huge game, I’ll never forget it, and we’re going to their place this time,” Engram said. “I’ve heard so many great stories about that environment and I can’t wait to get there.”
In addition to talking about the upcoming game, Freeze also discussed the team’s injuries, including senior wide receiver Collins Moore, who’s yet to play this season due to a knew injury,
“Collins (Moore) had surgery. It was just not getting well. He will not be back this year. He had surgery last week. He says he’s feeling much better,” Freeze said.
Freeze gave updates on more injuries, including some offensive lineman and star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell.
“Ben Still has a sprained MCL. Justin Bell and Aaron Morris have ankles that are sprained. We have a shoulder (injury) for Laquon,” Freeze said. “With the exception of Ben Still, I feel confident everybody will be ready to go except that one.”
Freeze said that Still was questionable for the game and said sophomore Robert Conyers could see more time because of it.
“He played almost all of the second half last week. He’s been rotating everywhere,” Freeze said. “He would be the guy if Ben can’t go.”
Wallace was confident in Conyers ability to step in.
“When they’re switching out, I really don’t notice any difference at all in the snaps or the calls,” Wallace said. “I’m totally comfortable with both of them.”
Freeze also talked about the development of sophomore cornerback Kailo Moore.
“Kailo Moore recovered a huge fumble against Alabama. He caused that one (against Tennessee),” Freeze said. “He played corner in the fourth quarter and graded out really, really high. He’s just a tremendous athlete.”
Moore was originally a running back when he came to Ole Miss, but moved to corner in the spring.
“He’s new on the defensive side. It’s kind of like he’s a freshman over there. He’s coming on nicely,” Freeze said. “He’s a guy we feel like can keep us from giving up explosive big plays. We’re really thrilled with his development.”
