Tag: Ole Miss Football

Is Georgia football still in it? Recruiting Director at Rivals makes Zach Evans prediction

Is Georgia football still in the mix for Zach Evans? Mike Farrell at Rivals thinks so.

Zach Evans, the 5-star running back out of North Shore High School in Houston, Texas, originally signed with Georgia but then later requested that the Bulldogs release him of his National Letter of Intent. Georgia did just that.

Evans, who may be the most talented player in the entire 2020 recruiting class, was supposed to announce his decision at the Under Armour game before backing out and delaying his recruitment.

Now, however, Georgia appears to be back in the fold for Evans.

Despite already signing with UGA and then being released from his NLI, some recruiting expert still think the superstar tailback will end up at Georgia when the dust settles.

Another name to keep an eye on is Broderick Jones, a 5-star offensive lineman who has been committed to Georgia for quite some time. He has not signed with the Dawgs, though, and Auburn has been making a strong push for the 6’6″ 300 pounder out of Lithonia, Georgia.

When asked to make a prediction on where these unsigned five-star players will go, Rivals.com’s National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell said he still thinks that both Evans and Jones will be heading to Georgia.

“Evans will end up at Georgia, Jones will also end up at Georgia.”

Evans is believed to be visiting Knoxville this weekend, according to Farrell. Ole Miss and Florida are in the mix as well.

At North Shore in Houston, Evans had another stellar season as a senior, rushing for 1,600 yards and 20 touchdowns on just 127 carries, with an average of 12.6 yards per carry. In 2018, when he was named MaxPreps’ National Junior of the Year, Evans tallied 1,785 rushing yards and 29 scores. His sophomore season,  Evans racked up 1,483 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

Former UGA safety Otis Reese transferring to SEC foe

Former Georgia Bulldogs safety Otis Reese has found his new home. Reese is the latest member of UGA’s talented class of 2018 to transfer.

Former Georgia Bulldogs safety Otis Reese has found his new home: the University of Mississippi. Reese is joining first year head coach Lane Kiffin in Oxford. Reese is the latest member of UGA’s talented class of 2018 to transfer to another school.

Reese announced his transfer via Twitter:

Best of luck to Reese in Oxford. The Dawgs will miss the depth he would’ve provided in the secondary. UGA expects Richard LeCounte and Lewis Cine to start at safety this season. Georgia will have to replace J.R. Reed’s elite level of play.

Georgia has four-star safety Major Burns coming into the mix as well in 2020. He’s an early enrollee.

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The arrivals of Mike Leach and Lane Kiffin in Mississippi just made the Egg Bowl a must-watch rivalry

Mike Leach is taking over at Mississippi State, and Ole Miss recently hired Lane Kiffin.

Mike Leach is leaving Washington State to take over as head coach for Mississippi State, USA TODAY Sports confirmed Thursday. This is huge news for the 58-year-old coach who’s famous for his air raid offense and is approaching two decades as a head coach.

Leach had been with the Cougars since the 2012 season after getting his first head coaching job in college at Texas Tech and spending 10 years with the Red Raiders.

After a 6-7 2019 season, the Bulldogs fired Joe Moorhead Friday at the end of his second season with the program. Mississippi State lost in the Music City Bowl to Louisville in December.

Leach taking over means the SEC has yet another big-personality coach in the conference, particularly the SEC West. But while the always blunt and often entertaining coach joins Alabama’s Nick Saban and LSU’s Ed Orgeron in that category, perhaps the most entertaining aspect of this news involves the program’s rivalry with Ole Miss, which recently hired Lane Kiffin.

The Egg Bowl rivalry game between the two teams is often wildly entertaining, sometimes regardless of the score. And even the most recent on in November ended in absurd fashion with a last-second touchdown, a penalty for a player mimicking a dog urinating on the field and a devastating missed extra point. A dog urinating moment also occurred in the 2017 matchup too.

So how could a game with a history of ridiculousness get even better? Pitting Leach against Kiffin is a great start. So mark your calendar because the first Egg Bowl with these two coaches is November 26, 2020.

College football Twitter is rightfully pumped about this new element of the rivalry with Leach’s arrival at Mississippi State, and that even includes the former Alabama assistant and FAU coach.

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Georgia football offers 2020 three-star Ole Miss commit Daran Branch

The Georgia Bulldogs have offered 2020 Ole Miss commit Daran Branch a football scholarship.

The Georgia Bulldogs have offered a scholarship to three-star defensive back Daran Branch. Branch is currently an Ole Miss Rebels commitment, but has not signed his Letter of Intent yet. Branch is 2020 prospect, so he may be reconsidering his commitment to Ole Miss.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive line coach Matt Luke originally recruited Branch back when Luke was the head coach at Ole Miss. Branch played football for Amite High School in Amite, Louisiana. He most recently took an official visit to Southern Mississippi, so his recruitment may not be done yet.

His original commitment to Ole Miss occurred while Luke was still head coach. Is he reconsidering? New Rebels coach Lane Kiffin will certainly try to keep Branch in the fold, but it is hard to compete with an excellent defensive recruiter in Kirby Smart.

Branch was excited to receive a scholarship offer from UGA, even though it is late in the process:

Will Branch be the latest SEC West commitment to flip to Georgia? He’d help fill in one of the remaining slots in Georgia’s impressive class of 2020.

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Meet Qaadir Sheppard, star on the field and in the classroom

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Ole Miss edge defender Qaadir Sheppard

Balancing college academics with playing SEC football is a unique challenge, but one that Ole Miss edge defender Qaadir Sheppard has excelled at throughout his career.

One of the Rebels’ top prospects in the 2020 NFL draft class, Sheppard recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his ability to win on the field and in the classroom, which offensive line units have impressed him, and how he’ll look back in his Ole Miss career.

JM: You were on the 2018 SEC Academic Honor Roll, as well as the Athletic Director Honor Roll in the fall. How did you balance academics with football?

QS: Coming from the high school that I came from, I was really able to make a smooth transition to college. My high school offered a couple of collegiate level classes that I took. The transition was actually pretty easy for me. It taught me how to manage my time. There’s a time and a place for both academics and football. I had a heavy workload in high school and that prepared me accordingly.

JM: What advice would you offer any student athletes out there who are maybe struggling with balancing academics with their athletics?

QS: I know it’s hard. You just gotta stay focused. You have to stay committed to the grind and you can’t give up. When you’re struggling to problem solve or life just gets tough, understand that it’s okay to seek help. Stay committed and understand that your school will provide you with the resources to be successful. There’s always help. The tutoring programs are always available to you. They’re always open to help us student athletes out.

JM: What’s your favorite part about playing on the defensive line?

QS: I like being versatile and multiple. I like to act like I’m coming after the quarterback when I’m really dropping in coverage. Confusing the quarterback post-snap is a fun wrinkle to me. It goes both ways. I also love when the quarterback thinks I’m dropping in coverage but I’m really coming after him.

JM: Who are some of the best offensive linemen you ever went up against throughout your time at Ole Miss?

QS: I wouldn’t say that individuals really stick out to me. I tend to notice overall units more. Auburn and Temple come to mind. LSU had some good tackles. Really, I just like playing against LSU in general. That’s always a fun one. Those three teams definitely come to mind.

JM: You’re about to go through the NFL draft process. What are you most excited for?

QS: I’m just excited to see how it all plays out for me. I’m excited to see what’s gonna happen next. Am I gonna get drafted or not? Where am I gonna get an opportunity? I’m ready to work hard and try to make an NFL roster. I’m ready to take that next step.

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JM: I know you had a lot of great teammates at Ole Miss, but if you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would you bring and why?

QS: I would bring Austrian Robinson with me. He played on our defensive line alongside me. We’re both from New York and we get along very well. We both came from New York out here to Ole Miss. Football brought us together out here. I would definitely bring him with me. We both have a chip on our shoulder. That’s a New York thing right there.

JM: Is there one NFL player you’d love to play against one day?

QS: Anybody, really. I just wanna get to that level and show them what I’m all about. That’s where my mind is at right now to be honest. I’m just ready to be humble. I’m ready to put my head down and go to work.

JM: How will you look back on your time at Ole Miss 5-10 years from now?

QS: I’ll look back at it as the right decision for me. It was a tremendous learning experience in every aspect of life. It was a pleasure and I grew a lot throughout my time here. It truly is a place of growth.

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Sean Payton says Saints scouted Titans WR A.J. Brown heavily before 2019 draft

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton is a fan of Tennessee Titans wide receiver A.J. Brown, one of the breakout rookie playmakers of 2019.

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The New Orleans Saints went into the offseason needing help at wide receiver, and they didn’t find it. Their gamble that Cameron Meredith would rebound from a serious knee injury stronger than Willie Snead would recover from a bad season turned out to be a bust. Second-year pros Tre’Quan Smith and Keith Kirkwood weren’t able to stay healthy for much of the season or consistently help the offense. Ted Ginn Jr. regressed hard after a career year in New Orleans. Undrafted prospects Emmanuel Butler and Lil’Jordan Humphrey have proven to be practice squad fodder.

It’s almost cruel that the Saints have to play one of the best rookie wideouts this week given the series of disappointments they’ve dealt with. A.J. Brown has been a revelation for the Tennessee Titans, posting a statline that anyone would be proud of. He’s caught 47 of 74 targets (63.5%) to gain 893 yards and score seven touchdowns, picking up a first down on 35 of his catches. That’s an average of 19.0 yards per catch (8.7 yards gained after the catch) and a first-down conversion rate of 74.5%, with per-game numbers of 3.4 receptions and 63.8 receiving yards in 2019.

Unfortunately, Saints coach Sean Payton can be counted among the crowd that hasn’t been shocked by Brown’s success as a second-round pick out of Ole Miss.

“He’s someone we scouted a lot when he was coming out last year,” Payton admitted during a conference call with Titans media. “First off, he’s got transitional quickness, he’s big. He’s someone that I think is very good after the catch. I also see a real good blocker in the running game. For a young receiver, those are real good signs.”

While Payton and the Saints may have liked Brown’s NFL prospects, they were too short-handed in draft capital to do much with that interest. They had to trade up from No. 62 to No. 48 to select Texas A&M center Erik McCoy, and that pick has been a slam dunk — the rookie won a starting gig and has rarely missed a snap this season while putting in high-quality game tape. The Titans picked Brown a few minute later at No. 51.

Brown wasn’t a huge part of the Titans offense early in the season, having averaged just 29.3 snaps per game through the first four weeks. But his playmaking ability and strength in blocking out on the perimeter has warranted more playing-time, and he’s gone on to average 45 snaps per game in the ten weeks since.

It’s going to be difficult for the Saints to corral Brown and the other Titans receivers, which include former top-ten draft pick Corey Davis and, ironically, slot specialist Adam Humphries — another receiver the Saints targeted this offseason, who the Titans won over with a four-year, $36 million contract in free agency. Pro Bowl Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore should be up to the task, but there’s real questions to ask whether number-two corner Eli Apple, slot defender P.J. Williams, and veteran newcomer Janoris Jenkins will be up to snuff.

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Lane Kiffin compares Nick Saban to his dad, ‘Shawshank Redemption’ character

Lane Kiffin also weighed in on Urban Meyer’s future.

After three seasons with Florida Atlantic, Lane Kiffin is back in the SEC after recently taking the Ole Miss head coach job. As a guest on The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday, Kiffin said he didn’t miss coaching in the SEC every day, but he did when he saw big matchups or the conference title game.

Leaving FAU, he said, was about regularly facing the best players and coaches in the country, and he’ll have a chance to do that now in the SEC West, which includes LSU, Auburn and his former team, Alabama. Without going into details, he said he had other options, but Ole Miss was the right fit.

“I was at Alabama for three years, and we lost two regular-season games and both were to Ole Miss,” Kiffin told Dan Patrick. “So I got to see what the place looked like when it was rolling. So it’s not like going to a place that you’ve gotta do something that’s never been done before.”

Nick Saban hadn’t reached out by that point, Kiffin said, but he received a message through someone that the Alabama coach is happy for him and said it was well-deserved. And now the two will go up against each other annually, first with Ole Miss hosting the Crimson Tide in October 2020.

When Patrick asked Kiffin how long he thinks 68-year-old Saban will continue coaching, the former Alabama offensive coordinator said:

“I think a long time. I do. I mean, what else are you going to do? … He does golf, but he’s miserable. And I mean that in a way — it’s why he’s so good. He is singularly focused on the University of Alabama and football at Alabama, every minute of every day — even if he’s golfing, even if he’s on a boat. He’s got his recruiting calls to make every night, whether it’s Christmas or whatever it is. It doesn’t matter. Every day is the same, and that’s why he’s so good. So I don’t know how he could retire.

“I think my dad’s like that. My dad’s turning 80 this year and still coaching for us, walking around the field, meeting players, helping young coaches. So there are certain people like that I call, like, prisoners. They can’t go in the real world, like Shawshank Redemption. When Brooks [Hatlen] goes in the real world, he can’t do it. He’s like, ‘Wait, I need to be in prison.’ You know? So they come back.”

Kiffin also weighed in on whether or not former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer will return to coaching after walking away at the end of the 2018 season. The latest rumors about Meyer is that Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys are interested in him replacing Jason Garrett, who is still the 6-7 team’s coach.

“I do,” Kiffin said when Patrick asked if he thinks Meyer will coach again. He continued:

“And that’s not from anything Urban has said to me so I don’t want some rumor mill [starting]. … Maybe [in the NFL]? He seems more of a college fit just because of his ability to recruit, but maybe if he wants to have a little than in college because college is yearlong. The NFL nowadays, coaches work half a year because of the NFLPA and the agreements [they’ve made]. You know, a lot of these staffs are one week on, one week off in the offseason, which they don’t have in college.”

Here’s Kiffin’s full interview on The Dan Patrick Show:

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Paul Finebaum says Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin are ‘obsessed’ with each other

Could Lane Kiffin be the first former assistant to beat Nick Saban?

Nick Saban’s coaching tree is formidable, and his former assistants have experienced a wide variety of success. But they still have yet to figure out how to beat their old boss.

After Alabama beat South Carolina’s Will Muschamp, Jimbo Fisher’s Texas A&M team and Jeremy Pruitt’s Tennessee team this season, Saban advanced to 19-0 against his former assistants who have become head coaches. Joining Fisher and Pruitt, others with multiple losses to Saban include Georgia coach Kirby Smart, former Florida coach Jim McElwain and Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio.

But with Lane Kiffin, who was an offensive coordinator at Alabama for three years, taking the Ole Miss coaching job, Saban has another former assistant to regularly face.

And ESPN college football analyst Paul Finebaum thinks Kiffin is the one to snap the streak.

Kiffin spent the last three seasons at Florida Atlantic and just coached the Owls to their second conference championship under him. About his return to the SEC, Finebaum said Tuesday on ESPN’s Get Up to Mike Greenberg and Laura Rutledge:

“Lane Kiffin is obsessed with Nick Saban, and I think Nick Saban is obsessed with him. And Greeny, I firmly believe that of all these disciples — and we’ve talked about them ad nauseam between Kirby Smart and Jimbo and so many others — that Lane Kiffin is going to be the first Saban disciple to beat the GOAT. I’m not saying it will happen next year, but it’s going to happen because he will spent every moment — he will lose 11 games to prepare for that one.

“And I think Saban’s not intimitaed by people, but he’s going to look over there and go, ‘I don’t want to play Lane Kiffin.'”

Saban’s Crimson Tide will play several former assistants in 2020 with Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M on their schedule.

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It’s official: Georgia announces hiring of former Ole Miss coach Matt Luke

Georgia football announces hiring of former Ole Miss HC Matt Luke

Well, the rumors are no longer rumors.

Former Ole Miss coach Matt Luke will replace Sam Pittman as Georgia’s offensive line coach, after the former accepted the head coaching job at Arkansas on Sunday.

Coach Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs wasted no time filling the spot Pittman left open and are already back on the trail, hoping to retain all the recruits gained by the Razorbacks’ main man.

This morning, the rumors on Luke to Athens quickly turned into reports, before the Bulldogs officially announced the signing just after 12:00 pm.

Luke will also serve as Georgia’s associate head coach. He coached Ole Miss’ offensive line from 2012 until 2016 and was named interim head coach after the firing of Hugh Freeze. Luke, who played center at Ole Miss in the 90’s, became his alma mater’s permanent head coach after the 2016 season.

Now, Georgia will turn its focus to the Early Signing Day, which is only 8 days away, as well as re-tooling the offensive staff.

Make sure to follow along with UGA Wire for the latest updates on the ongoing changes in Athens.

Former Georgia football players express support for potential Sam Pittman replacement

Former Georgia football players express support for Sam Pittman replacement candidate Matt Luke

Georgia football had a particularly rough weekend, after losing the SEC Championship Game to LSU in Atlanta Saturday and offensive line coach Sam Pittman to Arkansas Sunday.

With Pittman’s departure from the Peach State, comes a need for a new offensive-minded coach on the Bulldogs’ staff.

The name being tossed around lately is former Ole Miss Rebels head coach Matt Luke. Though he’s already the favorite to replace Pittman in Athens, having the support of two well-respected former players certainly can’t hurt.

We’ve heard Luke is the candidate current and former players have been lobbying for and this only adds to the buzz.

While nothing is official at the moment, it’s looking like Matt Luke very well could be the next offensive line coach in Athens. Stay tuned to UGA Wire as we update you throughout the week on everything changing.