Ashanti Cistrunk wants a Peach Bowl win to cap his time as an Ole Miss Rebel
Ashanti Cistrunk has certainly had his ups and downs over five seasons as an Ole Miss Rebel.
Winning cures all, of course, and only Georgia and Alabama have won more games than Ole Miss over the last three seasons. Cistrunk, a senior linebacker, has been among the Rebels’ leading tacklers. They have a chance to make history in the Peach Bowl.
A win would secure the program’s first-ever 11-win season.
But he’s had three defensive coordinators. He even briefly jumped into the NCAA Transfer Portal last off-season. Fortunately, he hung around, and Ole Miss had a defensive renaissance under first-year coordinator Pete Golding, formerly of Alabama.
The Rebels were a Top 25 overall unit, according to ESPN’s S&P rankings.
“It’s been a long journey. I’ve been through a couple defensive coordinators. It’s been a lot,” Cistrunk said. “Over those years, I grew as a person and learned a lot about myself personally. It’s been an amazing ride.
“I can’t wait to top it off with this win.”
Cistrunk and the Rebels will take on Penn State for the first time ever on December 30.
The game, a matchup of 10-win teams, is set for 11 a.m. CT in Atlanta. Ole Miss has been to the Peach Bowl twice. The other appearance came back in 2014.
“(Kiffin’s) been stressing to us to take the moment and enjoy it,” Cistrunk said. Cistrunk has 68 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception this season.
“Have fun, but at the same time, we came down here to win a game. That’s what we’re going to do.”
