'Feeling in your gut': Will Echoles and Ole Miss remembers last year's game at LSU all too well
Just under a year ago Ole Miss walked off the field at Tiger Stadium after suffering a 29-26 overtime defeat that, at the time, felt like it sank its season.
The then No.9-ranked Rebels were handed their second loss in conference play. The season turned around but for Will Echoles, and other players who were on the team last season, he still remembers that game all to well.
This year No. 13 Ole Miss (4-0, 2-0 SEC) hosts No. 4 LSU (4-0, 1-0) on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT with a similar opportunity that was on the line last October in Baton Rouge.
“You just got that feeling in your gut from last year on how the game ended,” Echoles said after Tuesday’s practice. “Just use that as motivation.”
Both the Rebels and Tigers are coming off non-conference wins last weekend beating Tulane and Southeastern Louisiana, respectively.
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Echoles is a starter on the Ole Miss defense line this year. A group that is showing signs of turning a corner.
Through the first third of the season the sack total is not on par to where it was a year ago for the Rebels. They are currently tied for 13th in the SEC with four sacks in four games. Only Florida has less.
Another glaring stat is Ole Miss being the worst rush-defense team in the SEC, allowing 190.5 yards per game on the ground. In last Saturday’s 45-10 win over Tulane the Rebels held quarterback Jake Retzlaff and the Green Wave rushing attack to 178 yards. The units second-lowest total this season after holding Kentucky to 172 yards in week two.
Echoles is seeing improvement with the first month of the season nearly completed.
“From the d-line room, just really playing relentless,” Echoles said. “Being on the same page and when we get our cleats in the ground and we’re all set, I think we’re pretty damn good.”
