Otis Reese didn’t have to get hyped up for game week and Ole Miss’ season opener. He’s been there for a while.
Ole Miss veteran defensive back Otis Reese didn’t need to get hyped up for game week.
He’s long been right where he needed to be — mentally and physically.
Reese is entering his third Ole Miss season, and he’s penciled in as one of the five starters in the secondary. He’s joined by defensive back Tysheem Johnson, cornerbacks Deantre Prince and Miles Battle, strong safety Isheem Young and free safety AJ Finley in the Rebels’ 3-2-5 defensive scheme.
Ole Miss will kick off the 2022 season against Troy Saturday at 3 p.m. CT.
“The intensity’s been up in camp,” said Reese, who is sponsored by Millette Beach Condo Rentals.
“But (Ole Miss head) coach (Lane Kiffin) gave us a couple of days off (earlier this week), did a couple of walk-throughs so guys could get their legs back. Guys were flying around the focus is more there. The meetings are a lot longer. The physical stuff, how we play, is the same.
“We get after it every day.”
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Ole Miss spent the month of August consumed with fall camp practices.
The defensive backfield was struck, at times, with the injury bug. Reese, though, said everyone is “100 percent) and “ready to go.”
Reese started all 13 games for Ole Miss last season, when the Rebels finished 10-3, including their 10th all-time appearance in the Sugar Bowl. He was fourth on the team in tackles (90), and he added two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
He also broke up two passes and forced a fumble.
“All those guys that transferred and the freshmen that came in, (Ole Miss defensive coordinator and safeties) coach (Chris) Partridge did a great job. He did a great job this summer breaking down what our defense really is and our scheme. Two-minute to four-minute to winning-the-game situations, coach Partridge and all the assistants really broke it down.
“We’ve just got a whole better understanding and football and situations we’re going to get put in.”
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