Jake Springer bringing "grimy, nasty" play to the Ole Miss defense
Much has been written and said about the turnaround of the Ole Miss defense during the season and many within the team credit Jake Springer.
Head coach Lane Kiffin has said himself that when Springer is on the field there is a different energy within the defense. A new energy has made the worst defense in FBS a season ago become reliable and crucial to the Rebels 10 wins in the regular season.
When Springer transferred from Navy to Ole Miss he had to sit out the 2020 season. But in the eight games he has played in this season, a difference has been felt.
The turnaround and ending up in a marquee bowl game is something Springer also sensed was coming.
“That’s one of the reasons I came here because (of) coach Kiffin, coach (DJ) Durkin and coach (Christ Partridge’s) systems and the buzz that was going on around this place,” Springer said. “Everyone in the organization knew that we were going to win if we do the things that we need to do. So, this doesn’t surprise any of us.”
While praise has been heaped on Springer as the special ingredient that was missing to make the defense better and provide that energy, the senior defensive back is sure to spread some of that praise around.
Whether Springer wants to accept that credit or not his contributions to this season cannot go unnoticed. Heading into the Sugar Bowl, Springer is seventh on the team in total tackles with 55 and just one behind Sam Williams.
Springer is not looking at the stat sheet when placing value on the impact he or his teammates have on the field.
“I got 10 other guys out there that I truly feel like we each make each other look better,” Springer said. “I think a bigger play than having your name on that stat or (said) over the intercom for making a tackle is going out there and doing your job and making the guy behind you, the guy in front of you look good and letting him get the tackle.
“I think that I bring just energy and just toughness and aggressiveness and just kind of a grimy, nasty type of football and that’s contagious. You look at our defense and we’re running around, there’s 10 guys on the tape on the ball at the end of the play.”
When speaking to the media after Tuesday’s Sugar Bowl practice, Springer made sure to give some praise of his own to a fellow teammate.
Noting he saw a defense grow up throughout the course of the season, Springer instantly thinks of Williams as the prime example to show that growth.
Springer was not shy when describing Williams, calling him the “most dominant” player on the team.
“Sam, you look at him from last year and this year and that guy’s got all the intangibles,” Spring said. “He’s the real deal. He’s a monster and his mindset and his demeanor this year and coming out of spring ball has changed and you can feel it and that’s scary.”
