LIVE! From the Manning Center: Lane Kiffin, Jared Ivey and Jaxson Dart
Ole Miss football had two light spring practices before breaking for a week.
The Rebels got back to work on Tuesday.
Local media was allowed its first viewing opportunity. But even for those who weren’t able to get a peak, sixth-year head coach Lane Kiffin had a full assessment in his post-practice press conference.
The biggest takeaway? While Ole Miss is coming off the first 11-win season in program history, most every Rebel is starting in the same place this spring: back at square one.
“Was really pleased with the energy and focus today, which isn’t always the case after a layoff like that,” Kiffin said. “Been playing a lot of guys at a lot of different positions. Just have challenged guys that everybody’s just like our team: 0-0. They’ve all got no stats.
“Find the best players to win and best positions for them to play.”
Kiffin certainly has a talented roster to work with.
Ole Miss signed a Top 3 transfer class over a busy, and fruitful, off-season. Seventeen are already going through practices this spring.
Third-year starting defensive lineman Jared Ivey specifically mentioned Walter Nolen (Texas A&M), Princely Umanmielen (Florida) and mid-year high-school enrollee Kam Franklin as a few of the newcomers currently standing out.
“It feels a lot more detailed (and) in-depth,” Ivey said of the Rebel defense, in its second season under coordinator Pete Golding. Ivey hosts the ‘Ivey League,’ a multimedia show in exclusive partnership with the Ole Miss Spirit, and powered by RiverLand Roofing.
“Obviously we have a base of guys who already understand our scheme, and then we’re bringing in new guys. They’re picking up quick. We’re helping them along quicker, and it’s not just the coaches’ voices. Other guys and leaders can step up and answer questions and be there to help guys throughout the defense and kind fo lead them away from mistakes.”
