Dirty Work and Dinner Plates: Ole Miss’ revamped offensive line gels under fire

First-year Ole Miss starting quarterback Austin Simmons recently treated his entire offensive line to dinner at Oxford Grillehouse.

Simmons reserved a private room and picked up the tab. UAB transfer guard Delano Townsend certainly appreciated the gesture — and said he’d never eaten food that good.

“It was great,” Townsend said. “I’ve never had no macaroni and cheese that good. Never had a medium steak ever. That was great.”

Simmons is replacing three-year record-setter Jaxson Dart. Dart is in training camp with the New York Giants, who made him a first-round NFL Draft selection in April.

Townsend, who was signed in December, spent the previous two seasons with the Blazers. He redshirted the first year and broke out in 2024. Townsend started 11 games and appeared in all 12.

“It’s going great,” Townsend said. “Getting adjusted fast. Love the way we practice. Getting used to the speed. Adjustment is probably a good word. Been here for a little minute now, so everything feels normal now. I got adjusted pretty fast.

“My whole thing was the speed of the game. Coming from my last school, it’s more intense. The speed of the game is just at a higher level. I feel like I have that. That was a big adjustment for me and the thing I focus on the most.”

Ole Miss will practice Monday to kick off the second full week of fall camp.

Ole Miss kicks off against Georgia State on August 30.

The Rebels have currently slotted Townsend and fellow transfer PJ Wilkins (Charlotte) as the starting guards. Arkansas transfer Patrick Kutas will start somewhere, likely at right guard, come the start of the season. 

Kutas isn’t in a black, no-contact jersey, which indicates injury designation. However, the Ole Miss coaches have limited him to individual drills so far. The Rebels are likely only trying to keep him healthy. Kutas has had durability concerns dating back to his days in Fayetteville.

Veterans Diego Pounds and Jayden Williams are the starters at left and right tackle, respectively. Ole Miss is also breaking in first-year starting center Brycen Sanders. Sanders is in his third season as a Rebel.

“My o-line room is great,” Townsend said. “Things get hard, we all just lean on each other and my guys. If you ever have a question, those are the two guys, Jay and Diego. Those are the guys that have been there. They’re great. They have the playbook down pat, and that’s who I was leaning on when it comes to me learning and getting the playbook down. Those guys are great.”

The Ole Miss offensive line has undoubtedly improved its depth since the spring.

Kutas is the No. 2 center, but second-year lineman John Wayne Oliver has emerged as an option, too. The Rebels signed Maryland tackle Terez Davis in the second portal window. He’s another potential starting option. Wilkins has positional versatility.

Townsend’s job is to be a road-grader.

“Bringing the intensity,” he said. “Just bringing it, being a dirty offensive lineman that I need to be. Coach [John] Garrison’s great. He’s been the same ever since I came on my visit. Great coach. He’s going to let you know what you need to hear and what you need to work on. Just go out and fix it.”

Townsend said a formidable Ole Miss defense challenges the reworked Rebel front every day.

The Rebels are replacing a lot on the other side of the ball as well. However, sources told Rebel Grove last week Ole Miss would put its eight-man defensive line rotation up against any other in college football.

“Everybody on defense is talented,” Townsend said. “So, no plays off. You’ve got to bring it every play. Just like coach says, iron sharpening iron.”