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LOOK: Lane Kiffin has ‘really unique, culture guys’ leading his Ole Miss football locker room

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett04/15/24SpiritBen

Ole Miss, adapting to the college-football times, threw the Rebel-ist of all carnivals with the rebranded ‘Grove Bowl Games’ on Saturday.

“I tried to make sure we focused on practice Thursday and then got into the walkthroughs stuff,” fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin said. “But they had the draft (for the Games), which they draft everybody in the organization. That’s pretty neat — for the teams to be divided like that.

“They ate different pregame meals, so I thought the guys were really motivated by (the layout of the events) and really energetic.”

But behind all the glitz and glamour and showmanship was a team already well-bonded by an actual, football-filled spring.

Yes, the Rebels had north of 30 mid-year enrollees, including 17 transfers. Still, the foundation for Ole Miss football in 2024 will most come in the form of its proven, determined group of returning veterans. 

The Rebels in the off-season brought back, among others, third-year starting quarterback Jaxson Dart. They’ve been ranked as high as No. 5 in way-too-early preseason Top 25 polls.

“It’s an old, veteran group that’s played a lot,” Kiffin said. “I think they’re really unique, culture guys. The whole ‘Last Dance’ thing and guys coming in for their last year and staying for their last year. When you do that, you’re investing a lot.

“I really feel they’re not just here because they just happened to come here. They came here to do something really special.”

The included photos were provided by Ole Miss Athletics.

AJ Brown

Chris Beard

Elijah Moore

Murphy Holloway

Joey Chestnut

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