Junior quarterback Bo Wallace had arguably one of his better games last season when Ole Miss traveled to Death Valley and took on LSU. The Rebels ended up falling 41-35 after surrendering 21 fourth-quarter points to the Tigers, but Wallace’s night highlighted the Rebels’ performance.
Wallace ended up with 54 total rushing yards on the night, most of which came from a 58-yard touchdown scamper. He also added a 1-yard touchdown run. Although statistics may not show it, Wallace was efficient through the air as well, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns, but his numbers were tainted by three interceptions.
“It was a fun game,” Wallace said earlier this week of last year’s matchup. “Probably one of the most fun games I’ve played in. I can’t remember exactly what we were doing or anything like that, but like I said, it’s going to be a fun game, a rivalry, and we are excited about it.”
This year will be a bit different now that Wallace will be surrounded with a few new weapons. Wallace will have one of his favorite targets available in junior wide receiver Donte Moncrief, who had a monster game against the Tigers last year with six catches for 161 yards and two touchdowns, and he will also have senior wideout Ja-Mes Logan, who was second on the team with three catches for 53 yards. However, the likes of freshman wide receivers Laquon Treadwell, Quincy Adeboyejo and tight end Evan Engram could prove to be the key this season in getting a win against the Tigers.
Treadwell currently leads the team with 32 catches and has 327 yards with two touchdowns, Moncrief is second with 24 catches for a team-high 358 yards and four touchdowns and Engram rounds out the top three with 18 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Adeboyejo is beginning to get in a groove with Wallace and has four catches for 39 yards on the year.
“The light is starting to click with Quincy,” Wallace said. “He is starting to pick things up, so I think his role will increase. He will get a lot more snaps these upcoming weeks.”
Wallace said after the game last year that he believed everything the offense did that night was working, but that they had to eliminate times he felt they were “shooting themselves in the foot.”
As far as this season has gone, the Rebels seem to be heading in the right direction, especially Wallace, who has taken care of the ball much better than last year. So far this year, Wallace has completed just under 60 percent of his passes and thrown for 1,444 yards through six games with nine touchdowns and just three interceptions.
Although the Tiger defense was one of the best in the country last season, things may prove to be a bit easier this season with LSU losing eight defensive players to the NFL draft this past year. However, the LSU defense has forced nine turnovers this season, which could prove to be the deciding factor in this season’s matchup.
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