Auburn football hired former Ole Miss wide receivers coach [autotag]Derrick Nix[/autotag] to serve as the program’s offensive coordinator and running backs coach in January. Nix steps into the role following the departure of [autotag]Philip Montgomery[/autotag] after one season on the Plains.
Nix joins Auburn’s staff after a successful 16-year stint in Oxford. While there, he built sturdy relationships with his peers as well as Ole Miss athletes. Did he depart Ole Miss with bad blood? It appears that all is well between Nix and the Rebels.
During day one of SEC Media Days in Dallas, Texas, Ole Miss players Tre Harris and Jaxson Dart were asked about their relationship with Nix. Both players had positive and kind words for the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator.
Harris, who reeled in 54 passes for 985 yards and eight touchdowns for the Rebels last season, says that Nix teaches valuable lessons outside of the x’s and o’s of football.
“He’s an incredible coach who’s looking to not only make you a better player on the field, but to make you a man,” Harris said. ”One thing he always harped on was that football does end at some point. You have to be a family man and you have to be a man of God.”
Rebel quarterback Jaxson Dart also expressed positive words about Nix, and approved Auburn’s decision to hire him.
“Great man and somebody that our team and guys really looked up to so Auburn made a really good hire,” Dart said.
As Auburn looks to revamp its passing game in 2024, [autotag]Hugh Freeze[/autotag] will look to Nix to increase production. Three Ole Miss receivers were able to surpass 700 receiving yards last season, and Ole Miss quarterbacks have passed for at least 270 yards per game in three of the last four seasons.
Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Taylor on Twitter @TaylorJones__