LIVE! From the Manning Center: Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Quinshon Judkins and Deantre Prince
Ole Miss hasn’t had its full, projected preseason lineup together for any one game this season.
So, Saturday at Auburn — should senior wide receiver Jordan Watkins have to sit — won’t be anything the Rebels aren’t used to.
Thing is, Lane Kiffin, at least publicly, is operating as if Watkins will be available.
“We anticipate him playing,” Kiffin said during his weekly press conference on Monday. “That’s all I got for you.”
Ole Miss had no game but still practiced last week. Watkins broke his hand in Tuesday’s session.
He had surgery in the following days, but, as reported yesterday by Chuck Rounsaville on the Ole Miss Spirit message board, the incision has to heal to avoid infection. That timetable is usually 10 days.
Put simply, how (whether limited or full) and when he returns will be almost entirely dependent on Watkins’ individual pain tolerance. Watkins did little to quell Kiffin’s belief in his potential availability for Auburn.
And the Rebels could certainly use him.
Watkins, through six weeks, is the team leader in both receptions (36) and yards (536).
His two touchdowns are tied for second. He’s also the Rebels’ primary punt returner. Ole Miss (5-1, 2-1 SEC) and Auburn (3-3, 0-3) kick off on The Plains Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.
“Good to get back out on the field,” Kiffin said. The Rebels are fresh off back-to-back wins over LSU and Arkansas. “Guys had a lot of energy, and I think they’re really excited for this matchup. Very challenging place to go play, and a team to play that we struggled with early here. Ended up winning last year.
“New challenge to go try to win on the road there. I think we’ve, as a program, won once there in 20 years. It’ll be exciting to get this opportunity to go in there and play a complete game, which we’ll need to win. These guys have got good players, really good coaching. This year, like a lot of years, they’re a very different team at home.”
Kiffin, as well as Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and cornerback Deantre Prince, all met with the media to preview the Auburn week ahead. Here’s everything they had to say.
