Zach Evans on Ole Miss rushing attack: I expect us to lead the SEC in rushing again

On3 imageby:Barkley Truax08/06/22

BarkleyTruax

Even though Ole Miss running back Zach Evans transferred into the program this offseason, he’s already convinced his group of tailbacks will be the best in the country during the 2022 college football season and expects to lead the SEC in rushing yards for a second consecutive year.

“Toward the tail-end of spring, we were just working, putting the pieces together. Yeah, [Ulysses] Bentley came, but the whole [running back] room deserves their props from Kentrel [Bullock] on down,” Evans said. “… all of them have been working – they come here countless hours, we come here early in the morning, we’re putting in the work.”

Ole Miss ranked No. 1 in the SEC and No. 8 in the country in rushing yards per game one season ago with 224.3. The Rebels also ran away with the rushing yards total with 2,691, the best in the conference by a slim margin, as the No. 2 Arkansas had 83 yards less when the season ended.

The rushing attack one year ago was led by Jerrion Ealy, Snoop Conner, Henry Parrish, Jr. and of course, Matt Corral. Ealy, Conner and Parrish accounted for 69.5 percent of yards accumulated on the ground (1,968) one year ago, though Corral’s 614 yards helped the Rebels’ rushing attack tremendously.

Likewise, Evans, Bentley and Bullock are expected to be a three-headed monster of sorts this season, though none have ever played together before and all three failed to produce the numbers expected of them one year ago (Bullock played more of a reserve role for Ole Miss in 2021). Evans (TCU), Bentley (SMU) and Bullock (Ole Miss) combined for 1,336 rushing yards and nine touchdowns at their respective colleges one season ago.

The trio will have to double their production this season if they want to rival SEC rushing attacks such as Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky or Texas A&M – something certainly easier said than done. Nonetheless, the confidence in the Ole Miss rushing room is as high as ever, and Evans expects nothing but the best from himself and his peers.

“I think it could be the best in the country. I think it can be great, I mean, that’s what we’re working for,” Evans said.