Head Coach Hugh Freeze looks downfield during practice. (Photo by: Taylor Cook)
Ole Miss wrapped up fall camp Sunday, just two weeks before its first game Florida State on Sept. 5 in Orlando. Here are some notes from Saturday’s practice.
Offensive line:
Perhaps the place with the most question marks coming into fall camp, the Ole Miss offensive line will rely on a lot of guys that are still young but have good a amount of experience. Guys like sophomores Javon Patterson, Sean Rawlings and Jordan Sims saw a lot of action a year ago as freshmen, and their experience has helped stabilize a unit that offensive coordinator Dan Werner said he feels is starting to mesh.
“It’s coming together,” Werner said. “We’re moving some guys around a little bit just to who is going to fit where. We need to come up with about eight to 10 guys that we feel like can go through a game, and right now guys are really battling.”
The first team offensive line in practice today looked like this.
LT LG C RG RT
Rod Taylor Javon Patterson Robert Conyers Jordan Sims Sean Rawlings
The only real surprise here is Rod Taylor at left tackle rather than Alex Givens, but Werner said coaches are moving some guys around right now to get different looks. Givens should start the year at the left tackle spot. True freshman Greg Little took reps with the second team today as did Givens. Conyers also took some snaps at right tackle.
Running backs:
It’s been an interesting week at this position after redshirt junior Jordan Wilkins was declared academically ineligible on Thursday. He was battling with Akeem Judd for the starting running back spot with the anticipation that both of them would see a lot of carries.
“It’s next man up, just like if there was an injury or something,” Werner said. “We’re going to put the next guy in, and we’ve got a lot of talent at that position and the next guy knows he’s got to come in and compete.”
As far as what the backfield looks like without Wilkins, junior Eugene Brazley took some first-team reps with Judd and redshirt freshman Eric Swinney. Judd had a long touchdown run today when the offense and defense squared off against each other at the end of practice.
Sophomore D.K. Buford also saw a few snaps with the first team. He and D’Vaughn Pennamon may be called upon more than originally anticipated this year in Wilkins’ absence.
Notes:
- Freshman tight end Octavious Cooley has been used a lot in fall camp. He’s a big target at 6 feet 3 inches, and the coaching staff has had high praise for him so far.
“He’s really talented, and we want to try to get him in there and see what his role will be,” Werner said of Cooley.
- Shea Patterson took reps at quarterback with the second team, while Jason Pellerin ran on the third team.
- Wide receiver A.J. Brown went with the first team some and made a nice catch while absorbing a pretty big hit over the middle. He’s a freshman that will make an impact immediately this fall.
- Fadol Brown was held out of practice again with a foot injury. D.J. Jones also did not practice.
- Ole Miss scrimmages on Sunday as it hits the back end of fall camp.
- Tre Nixon was shaken up after a big hit from C.J. Hampton. He walked off on his own and did not seem to be seriously injured.
- Derrick Jones returned kickoffs today while Nixon and Van Jefferson saw action returning punts.
