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Rebs’ motivation has to come from within
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f we’re being honest, Saturday isn’t going to be like most Ole Miss gamedays in Oxford. Most of them consist of hordes of fans marinating in the Grove until it’s time for 65,000 or so of them to pack into VaughtHemingway Stadium to create the best home-field advantage possible for the Rebels during a Southeastern Conference showdown. An 11 a.m. kickoff this week kind of kills the whole tailgating thing, but it’s not the biggest reason this Saturday will be different for the Rebels. Ole Miss, a 3-5 team looking for its first win in more than a month, will step out of conference play to host Georgia Southern, a mediocre team in the Sun Belt. If Hugh Freeze
didn’t like the fact that some students began filing out of the stadium early last week in what was a one-possession game for most DAVIS POTTER of the second half against Auburn, then he’d be better off not ever looking toward the North end zone Saturday. There’s not a lot of appeal for this kind of game in the midst of an underachieving season, and there will be plenty of empty seats. If 40,000 show up, Ole Miss will be doing good. The energy, enthusiasm and motivation for the Rebels will have to be self-generated, and it will have to be that way the rest of the season. After this, the Rebels have trips
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The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
to Texas A&M and Vanderbilt, places where they’ll have more fans cheering against them than for them (at least I think Vanderbilt will have a few more fans there in Nashville). Fans will come out in droves for the Egg Bowl on Nov. 26, but it will simply be for pride. Early losses to Florida State and Alabama combined with Ole Miss’ current three-game losing streak has relegated a season once full of championship aspirations to a fight for bowl eligibility. The Rebels can’t lose more than once the rest of the way if they want to get there. Players are saying all the right things about continuing to fight and wanting to finish the season SEE POTTER, 11
GA. SOUTHERN AT OLE MISS Rank: Not ranked Record: 4-4 (3-2 Sun Belt)
Rank: Not ranked Record: 3-5 (1-4 SEC)
All-time series: Saturday’s game marks the first-ever meeting between Ole Miss and Georgia Southern. Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium When: Saturday, 11 a.m. TV: ESPNU Radio: Ole Miss Radio Network (105.1 FM)
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page 3 — Rebels just want win against Georgia Southern Page 4 — Know Your Opponent: Georgia Southern Page 5 — Rosters Page 6 — Wunderlich kicking with consistency Page 7 — A.J. Brown making immediate impact at WR Page 8 — Fadol Brown worried about wins, not injury Page 9 — Kelly’s final season turning bittersweet Page 10 — Rebels, everyone else after Clinton’s Akers Page 14 — SEC Notebook
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Friday, November 4, 2016
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GAMBRELL PHOTOGRAPHY/GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS
Georgia Southern’s Kevin Ellison (4) has thrown for five touchdowns this season, but the FBS’s active leader in career rushing yards among quarterbacks will test Ole Miss’ defense more with his legs in the Eagles’ option offense.
Ole Miss just wants win against Georgia Southern BY DAVIS POTTER davis.potter@oxfordeagle.com
There’s nothing complicated about Ole Miss’ motivation at this point. The Rebels couldn’t care less about the Southeastern Conference Western Division standings. Ole Miss doesn’t have to concern itself with formulas, tiebreakers or winning percentages among its peers. Ole Miss simply wants to stop some of the bleeding. “I think it’s just being 1-0 (this week),” quarterback Chad Kelly said. A season that began with the Rebels talking about competing for championships has been diminished to a fight for bowl eligibility. October was particularly cruel to Ole Miss (3-5, 1-4 Southeastern Conference), which enters Saturday’s non-conference game against Georgia Southern on a three-game losing streak —
its longest since 2013. The Rebels gave up 40 points last week in an 11-point loss to Auburn, which spoiled a school-record 465 passing yards from Kelly. The year-long deficiencies on defense have been magnified against some of Ole Miss’ better opponents in the division as the Rebels are allowing 272.7 rushing yards a game and 37.3 points per game during their current skid. “It continues to be an issue for us on defense, stopping the run and giving up explosive plays,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said. “I have zero frustration in the effort of our kids. I do continue to have frustration over not being able to fix a recurring problem.” After combining to win 19 games the last two seasons, Ole Miss has to win three of its last four just to play in the postseason. SEE WIN, 11
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Friday, November 4, 2016
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The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
GEORGIA SOUTHERN
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT Tyson Summers has a .500 team in his first year as Georgia Southern’s head coach, but the Eagles’ option offense always makes them dangerous.
Head coach: Tyson Summers (first season at Georgia Southern, 4-4; 4-4 overall)
Miss defense that now ranks 118th nationally against the run.
Results: beat Savannah State 54-0, beat South Alabama 24-9, beat LouisianaMonroe 23-21, lost to Western Michigan 49-31, lost to Arkansas State 27-26, lost to Georgia Tech 35-24, beat New Mexico State 22-19, lost to Appalachian State 34-10
Iron in the middle: There’s no disputing Georgia Southern’s leader on defense. Linebacker Deshawntee Gallon has piled up 201 tackles and four blocked kicks over the last two-plus seasons, but he’s better known as Ironhead, a nickname his father gave him at an early age. It’s fitting as Gallon is a sturdy presence in the middle of the Eagles’ defense, leading the team with 71 tackles and four pass breakups. He’s part of a strong linebacking corps with Ukeme Eliqwe, who has 58 tackles. But more often than not, the pair will be heavily tested in pass coverage against tight end Evan Engram and the rest of Ole Miss’ receivers.
Last meeting: Ole Miss and Georgia Southern have never met before in football. Dynamic duo: Georgia Southern will bring one of the nation’s top rushing quarterback tandems to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday. Senior Kevin Ellison has started 30 of the Eagles’ last 35 games, but he rotates with fellow senior Favian Upshaw with the Eagles going with whoever’s hot at different points of the game. Ellison, the FBS active leader in career rushing yards among quarterbacks, and Upshaw had the most rushing yards of any quarterback duo in the nation last year (1,291) and are at it again this year with 703 combined yards. The pair has also combined to throw nine touchdowns, but Ellison and Upshaw are the catalysts in the Eagles’ option offense that’s cranked out 1,912 rushing yards. It will be yet another test for an Ole
Worth noting: This Georgia Southern team isn’t quite what it’s been in years past, but the Eagles have been a headache for Power Five teams to deal with recently. Four of Georgia Southern’s last six games against Power Five opponents have been decided by six points or less, including a stunning win at Florida in 2013. The Eagles took Georgia to the wire last season before falling by six points in overtime. Georgia Tech beat the Eagles by 11 in their only game against a Power Five team so far this season, but Georgia Southern
clearly isn’t intimidated by the big boys. It’s that option offense that’s rare in today’s
FRANK FORTUNE/GEORGIA SOUTHERN ATHLETICS
game that continues to give their opponents a scare.
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OLE MISS REBELS No. 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 8 8 9 10 10 11 11 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 15 16 16 17 17 19 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 25 25 26 26 27 28 28 29 30 32 33 33 34 35 36 37 38 41 42 43 43 44 45 48 50 52 52 53 54 54 55 57 58 61 62 63 67 68 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 83 84 85 85 86 87 88 89 89 90 90 91 92 92 93 93 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 98 98 99 99
Name Tony Bridges A.J. Brown Deontay Anderson DeMarquis Gates Damore’ea Stringfellow C.J. Hampton Tre Nixon DaMarkus Lodge Ken Webster Fadol Brown Jalen Julius Jason Pellerin Quincy Adeboyejo Rommel Mageo Breeland Speaks Marquis Haynes Chad Kelly Greg Eisworth Markell Pack Tony Conner Van Jefferson Kailo Moore Grant Restmeyer Victor Evans D.K. Metcalf Octavious Cooley Myles Hartsfield Drew Davis Jalen Julius Evan Engram Willie Hibbler Derrick Jones Shea Patterson Jarrion Street Terry Caldwell Akeem Judd Ray Ray Smith Jordan Wilkins Eugene Brazley Carlos Davis Tayler Polk Eric Swinney D.K. Buford Montrell Custis Martin Johnson C.J. Moore Cale Luke Cameron Ordway D’Vaughn Pennamon Armani Linton A.J. Moore Temario Strong John-Patrick Sherling Nathan Vanderburg Shawn Curtis Donta Evans Zedrick Woods Luke Davis John Youngblood Antwain Smith Garrald McDowell Detric Bing-Dukes Ty Quick Alex Ashlock Tyler Pittman Jack Raborn Sean Rawlings Michael Howard Austrian Robinson Will Few Jack DeFoor Sam Johnson Tyler Putnam Chadwick Lamar Michael Taylor Eli Johnson Kamden Darney Jacob Freely Alex Givens Chandler Tuitt Jordan Sims Bryce Mathews Royce Newman Rod Taylor Greg Little Robert Conyers Daronte Bouldin Talbot Buys Jeremy Liggins Javon Patterson Elliot Markuson Trey Bledsoe Gabe Angel Hunter Thurley Dawson Knox Alex Weber Walker Rynd D.J. Forte Ty Reyes Korbin Harmon Taz Zettergren Ross Donelly Jack Propst Nathan Noble Josiah Coatney Luke Logan Tyler Jackson D.J. Jones Will Gleeson Issac Gross Benito Jones Isaac Way Mac Brown Jordan Herbert Gary Wunderlich Grant Warren Charles Wiley Justin Charette Herbert Moore
Pos. Height/Weight DB 6-0/185 WR 6-1/225 DB 6-1/217 LB 6-2/211 WR 6-2/211 DB 6-0/186 WR 6-1/170 WR 6-2/190 DB 5-11/189 DE 6-4/273 DB 5-10/172 QB 6-4/230 WR 6-3/195 LB 6-2/233 DT 6-3/310 DE 6-3/222 QB 6-2/224 DB 5-11/184 WR 6-2/184 DB 6-0/225 WR 6-2/187 DB 5-10/188 QB 6-4/210 DE 6-3/240 WR 6-4/217 TE 6-3/246 DB 5-11/199 QB 6-1/208 DB 5-10/172 TE 6-3/227 LB 6-3/231 WR 6-2/188 QB 6-1/193 DB 6-2/207 LB 6-1/216 RB 5-11/228 LB 6-2/216 RB 6-1/215 RB 5-9/192 DB 5-8/170 LB 5-11/212 RB 5-9/210 RB 5-11/227 DB 6-0/186 RB 6-0/194 DB 5-11/193 WR 6-1/193 DB 5-11/184 RB 5-11/218 DB 6-2/215 DB 5-11/199 LB 6-0/229 LB 5-11/221 RB 5-7/184 LB 6-2/250 LB 6-1/233 DB 5-11/197 LB 6-2/215 DE 6-3/255 DB 5-7/187 DE 6-2/261 LB 6-1/247 TE 6-3/264 LB 6-1/225 DL 5-11/230 LB 6-1/226 OL 6-5/282 OL 6-5/250 DL 6-4/288 LS 6-3/242 OL 6-5/275 OL 6-1/268 OL 6-4/308 LS 6-1/206 LS 6-1/181 C 6-1/289 LS 6-1/227 C 6-2/282 OL 6-6/297 OL 6-4/315 OL 6-4/334 OL 6-6/275 OL 6-5/273 OL 6-3/329 OL 6-6/332 OL 6-5/298 OL 6-5/324 OL 6-8/320 OL 6-3/310 OL 6-3/307 LB 6-0/222 WR 6-1/205 TE 6-3/238 DE 6-4/241 TE 6-4/239 WR 6-1/180 WR 6-3/175 DL 6-3/255 DE 6-2/245 DE 6-4/235 TE 6-3/218 DT 6-1/306 LS 5-11/200 K 6-3/229 DL 6-4/293 K 5-11/195 K 5-11/191 DT 6-0/321 P 6-3/189 DT 6-1/263 DT 6-2/308 K 5-9/170 P 6-4/197 DT 5-11/291 K/P 6-0/193 P 6-1/208 DE 6-2/253 K 5-10/195 DT 6-1/326
Yr. SR FR FR JR JR JR FR SO JR SR FR RS-FR SR GR-TR SO JR SR FR JR SR RS-FR SR FR SO FR FR FR SR RS-FR SR RS-FR SR FR FR SR SR JR JR JR SR JR SO SO RS-FR SR JR JR SO FR SO JR SR JR JR RS-FR FR SO JR SR JR SO SO-JC JR JR JR SO SO RS-FR RS-FR SR FR RS-FR SO SO RS-FR FR RS-FR SR RS-FR FR SO FR FR JR FR SR JR SR SR SO JR JR FR SR RS-FR SO FR FR FR FR SR SO FR SR SO-JC FR SR SR JR SR FR FR FR SO JR JR FR FR JR
Friday, November 4, 2016
The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
GEORGIA SOUTHERN EAGLES
Hometown (Last School) Hattiesburg (Miss. Gulf Coast CC) Starkville Houston Meridian Perris, Calif. (Washington) Meridian Viera, Fla. Cedar Hill, Texas Decatur, Ga. Charleston, S.C. (FIU) Winter Garden, Fla. New Iberia, La. Cedar Hill, Texas Pago Pago, American Samoa (Oregon St.) Jackson Jacksonville, Fla. Buffalo, N.Y. (East Mississippi CC) Grand Prarie, Texas Purvis Batesville Brentwood, Tenn. Rosedale McKinney, Texas Dallas Oxford Laurel Sayreville, N.J. Bonita Springs, Fla. (Coffeeville CC) Winter Garden, Fla. Powder Springs, Ga. Sardis Eupora Shreveport, La. (IMG Academy) Trussville, Ala. Wilmington, N.C. (Northwest Miss. CC) Durham, N.C. (Georgia Military) Florence, Ala. Cordova, Tenn. New Olreans, La. Birmingham, Ala. Magee (Brandon HS) Riverdale, Ga. Oxford Jonesboro, Ga. Preston (East Central CC) Bassfield Clinton Pulaski, Tenn. Houston Walnut Bassfield Batesville Fairhope, Ala. Olive Branch Doral, Fla. Lawrenceville, Ga. Lake City, Fla. Trussville, Ala. Trussville, Ala. Southaven Covington, La. Tucker, Ga. (Iowa Western CC) Terry Cordova, Tenn. (Chattanooga) Kossuth (Bethel University) Advance, NC Madison Green Cove Springs, Fla. New York Augusta, Ga. Calhoun, Ga. Nashville Olive Branch Oxford Jackson, Tenn. Taylor (Lafayette HS) Upland, Calif. Picayune (East Miss. CC) Nashville Fayetteville, Ga. Homewood, Ala. Brentwood, Tenn. Nashville, Ill. Jackson Allen, Texas Miami, Fla. Canton Vicksburg (Holmes CC) Oxford (NEMCC) Petal Oxford Grenada Lebanon, Tenn. Nashville (Wofford) Nashville Lake City, Fla. Forth Worth, Texas Atlanta Marietta, Ga. Oxford Senatobia Houston, Texas Brentwood, Tenn. Greenville Douglasville, Ga. (Holmes CC) Hattiesburg Oxford (Itawamba CC) Greenville, SC (East Miss. CC) Melbourne, Aus. Batesville Waynesboro Franklin, Tenn. Eden Prarie, Minn. Klein, Texas Memphis Pascagoula Stockbridge, Ga. Little Rock, Ar. Memphis
No. 1 2 2 4 4 5 5 6 7 7 9 9 10 10 11 12 13 13 14 15 15 15 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 28 29 30 31 31 32 32 33 34 35 35 36 37 38 38 39 40 40 41 42 43 43 44 45 45 46 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 54 55 55 56 57 57 58 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 85 86 86 87 88 88 89 90 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 97 98 98 99
Name L.A. Ramsby LaBaron Anthony RJ Murray Monquavion Brinson Kevin Ellison Darius Jones Jr. Ellis Richardson Myles Campbell Ukeme Eligwe R.J. Merriweather Montay Crockett Younghoe Koo Vegas Harley Seth Shuman Malik Henry BJ Johnson III Christian Matthew Favian Upshaw Hampton McConnell Monteo Garrett Quan Howard Martial Washington Jr. Obe Fortune Ken Butler Jr. Shai Werts D’Ondre Glenn Kindle Vildor Wesley Fields Sean Freeman Joshua Moon Mark Michaud George Johnson Jr. Robert Brice II Jay Bowdry Ironhead Gallon Mario Cherry Amari Thompson Demarcus Godfrey Jessie Liptrot Mike Summers Jr. Jc’kenzie Walker William Bussey Jr. Troy Stewart Jermany Hawkins Chris DeLaRosa Eric Montgomery DeAndre Watkins Matt Breida Tori Delesline Jacorey Belvin Jaylen Searcy Rayquan Sam Ryan George Willis Toulson III Deshon Cooper Nardo Govan Kenneth Cochrum Jr. Chaz Thornton J.B. Kouassi Jake Abraham Lane Ecton Ross Alexander Darrell Baker Jr. Randy Wade Jr. J.L. Banks IV Chris Barrett Todd Bradley Jamal Johnson Rashad Byrd Brandon Holley Tra Malloy Ike Ukwu Matt Flynn Darius Roper Bernard Dawson Zack Copeland Parker Williams Jeremiah Culbreth Traver Vliem Alvin Ward Jr. Andy Kwon Drew Wilson Ryan Northrup Michael McAlvin Jakob Cooper Tristan Hill Jake Edwards Alex Smith Christian Williams Drake Grall Chris Washington Jeremiah Theus Max Magana Sean Gaddy Will Carter Jr. Lawrence Edwards Curtis Rainey Tommy Boynton John Freeman Heath Warren Kevin Ackerman Darion Anderson Mike Jackson Keigan Williams Dexter Carter Jr. Magill Bauerle Tyrell Moorer Travis Baugus Raymond Cochran III Colby Ransom Malik Broughton Nick Sewak Tanner Hall Tristan Mann Darrius Sapp Logan Hunt Jonathan Battle Jr. Jake Dangerfield Tre Griffin Ian Bush Ty Phillips Luis Martinez Shelby Townsend Jr. Tyler Bass Tim Wilkerson II Jay Ellison
Pos. Height/Weight RB 5-11/210 QB 6-0/185 S 6-0/200 CB 5-11/170 QB 6-0/195 CB 5-10/180 QB 6-3/235 WR 5-6/170 LB 6-2/239 WR 6-0/180 WR 6-0/180 PK 5-10/190 S 5-11/185 QB 6-1/195 WR 6-0/175 WR 6-1/212 CB 6-3/175 QB 6-1/170 WR 6-2/190 QB 5-10/185 WR 6-2/180 S 6-3/203 WR 6-1/178 LB 5-11/220 QB 5-11/188 WR 6-5/210 CB 5-11/177 RB 6-0/195 DB 6-0/195 S 6-0/187 TE 6-4/210 WR 5-9/165 S 5-11/205 S 6-0/186 LB 5-10/210 RB 5-8/180 S 6-2/180 RB 5-9/179 CB 6-0/185 WR 6-1/200 S 6-0/187 LB 6-0/215 RB 5-9/190 RB 5-10/207 LB 6-1/230 RB 6-1/190 CB 5-9/160 RB 5-11/190 LB 6-1/205 LB 5-10/211 WR 6-1/185 CB 5-9/180 DE 6-1/244 TE 6-0/230 DE 6-3/240 DE 6-2/250 S 5-11/185 RB 5-7/185 DE 6-2/230 LS 5-9/210 S 5-11/190 TE 6-2/237 CB 6-1/190 LB 6-2/230 TE 6-2/230 TE 6-3/230 LB 6-0/215 DE 6-2/245 LB 6-0/205 LB 6-0/210 OL 6-5/300 LB 6-1/235 P 6-0/200 DL 6-3/270 DE 6-2/248 DL 6-1/250 OL 6-1/295 OL 6-4/302 DE 6-4/237 LB 6-4/216 OL 6-2/300 OL 6-4/300 OL 6-2/290 OL 6-6/290 OL 6-3/275 OL 6-4/275 OL 6-4/285 OL 6-4/290 OL 6-0/300 OL 5-10/293 DL 6-0/300 OL 6-4/285 OL 6-7/290 OL 6-0/270 LS 6-4/220 OL 6-6/258 OL 6-2/297 OL 6-4/300 OL 6-4/294 OL 6-3/250 TE 6-5/247 WR 6-0/176 WR 5-10/169 WR 6-1/205 WR 6-0/180 P 6-1/180 WR 5-11/183 LS 6-1/225 WR 5-9/180 WR 5-11/182 TE 6-4/208 LS 6-2/220 WR 6-1/185 TE 6-2/235 DL 6-1/330 DE 6-2/255 DL 6-1/285 P 6-1/180 DE 6-1/245 DL 6-0/301 DL 6-3/260 PK 5-9/194 DL 6-1/270 PK 5-10/173 DE 6-3/240 DL 6-1/310
Yr. JR SO SO FR SR SR JR JR JR FR SR SR SR FR SO SR FR SR FR SO FR FR FR SR FR FR FR SO SO SO FR SO JR FR SR SO FR JR FR SR FR SR SO FR JR FR SO SR FR SO FR SR JR FR JR SR FR JR FR SR FR JR FR FR FR FR FR SR FR SO JR JR JR JR SR SO FR SO FR FR SR FR SO FR FR SO SO FR SO SO JR FR SR SR FR FR SO JR JR JR FR FR FR SR FR FR FR FR FR FR JR JR FR FR JR SO SR FR SR SO FR FR SO FR SO SR
Hometown (Last School) Cincinnati, OH Hinesville, GA Duluth, GA Atlanta, GA Cornelia, GA Woodruff, SC Villa Rica, GA Duluth, GA Stone Mountain, GA Tifton, GA Rock Hill, SC Ridgewood, NJ Mount Dora, FL Valdosta, GA Tifton, GA Woodruff, SC Columbus, GA Titusville, FL Cumming, GA Talladega, AL Gainesville, FL Riceboro, GA Alpharetta, GA La Marque, TX Clinton, SC Douglasville, GA College Park, GA Americus, GA Fort Valley, GA Fairburn, GA Brooklyn, NY Broxton, GA Decatur, GA Thomasville, GA Madison, FL Thomasville, GA Minneola, FL Sharpsburg, GA Atlantic Beach, FL Statesboro, GA Douglas, GA Thomson, GA Atlanta, GA Sylvania, GA Longwood, FL Marietta, GA Alpharetta, GA Brooksville, FL Hampton, SC Camilla, GA Warner Robins, GA Norcross, GA Stone Mountain, GA Louisville, GA Atlanta, GA Garden City, GA Lithonia, GA Toccoa, GA Norcross, GA Cumming, GA Irmo, SC Columbia, MO Hephzibah, GA Blakely, GA Bogart, GA Clearwater, FL Valdosta, GA Statesboro, GA North Augusta, SC Buford, GA Lilburn, GA Nashville, TN Loganville, GA Jersey City, NJ Thomson, GA Valdosta, GA Milledgeville, GA Fairburn, GA Midland, TX Ahoskie, NC Suwanee, GA Bamberg, SC Norcross, GA Augusta, GA Lilburn, GA Mustang, OK Franklin, GA Woodstock, GA Wetumpka, AL Locust Grove, GA Hephzibah, GA Fleming Island, FL Las Vegas, NV Martinez, GA Cordele, GA Port Orange, FL Jacksonville, FL Jacksonville, FL Snellville, GA Forsyth, GA Jacksonville, FL Warner Robins, GA Lake City, FL Metter, GA Jacksonville, FL Athens, GA Jacksonville, FL Cumming, GA Columbus, GA Stone Mountain, GA Warner Robins, GA Marietta, GA Suwanee, GA Tyrone, GA Valdosta, GA Sandersville, GA Americus, GA Springfield, GA Powder Springs, GA Port Charlotte, FL Moultrie, GA Moultrie, GA Cartersville, GA Irmo, SC Katy, TX Hamilton, GA
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The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
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Ole Miss placekicker Gary Wunderlich (97) has made 13 of his 14 field goal attempts this season, including a career-long 49-yarder last week against Auburn.
Rebels getting a kick out of Wunderlich’s consistency BY JAKE THOMPSON jake.thompson@oxfordeagle.com
Kickers have gained some extra attention in the football world of late in both the professional and collegiate ranks. With misses in overtime causing two ties in the NFL and extra-point blocks causing losses and upsets in the Top 25, the discussion of finding a stable kicker has become a talking point. Ole Miss is happy they do not have to worry about an inconsistent kicker with junior Gary Wunderlich. “It’s kind of tough to watch,” Wunderlich said of seeing his peers miss kicks. “Seeing guys I know miss extra points, it’s tough to watch. You can’t really think about it. You have to focus on what you’re doing and not let it affect you.” So far, the Memphis native has not
had many miscues this season for Ole Miss. Wunderlich is 13-of-14 in field goal attempts and has converted 31 of 33 extra point tries. The former Memphis University School standout’s most recent hiccup came after Ole Miss scored their first touchdown against Auburn when Montravius Adams blocked his kick. He is is toughest critic, saying he’d grade his season with a B up to this point. “That PAT miss hurts. You can’t have it,” Wunderlich said. Despite the block, Wunderlich did set a new personal best on Saturday, hitting a career-long 49-yard kick. He said he feels he is “solid” inside 50 yards and has hit kicks of 57-55 yards in practice, citing the game balls make it a little tougher to connect from that far out on Saturdays. SEE WUNDERLICH, 12
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Friday, November 4, 2016
Ole Miss freshman A.J. Brown (1) has been a part of the playing rotation all season out wide with 18 catches for 249 yards and two touchdowns.
Physical Brown making immediate impact out wide BY JAKE THOMPSON jake.thompson@oxfordeagle.com
One of the biggest gets in Hugh Freeze’s tenure in regards to recruiting in the state of Mississippi is snagging the services of former Starkville High standout A.J. Brown. The receiver was heavily sought after by Ole Miss, his hometown school of Mississippi State University and others all throughout his career as a Yellowjacket and the recruiting process. But fortunately for Freeze and receivers coach Grant Heard, Brown decided to put on an Ole Miss hat come National Signing Day last February. With Laquon Treadwell departing for the NFL and foregoing his senior season, the need for young receivers to step up and make an immediate impact was a forgone conclusion. For Brown, that was not an issue as he drove up Highway 45 to Oxford and was ready to produce when fall camp
rolled around in August. “He is getting better,” Freeze said of Brown. “A.J. is going to be a phenomenal wide receiver. I think he is going to continue the tradition that we have here of wide receiver play.” Brown was a part of a signing class that included Oxford High’s D.K. Metcalf and Tre Nixon out of Florida. Metcalf and Brown saw playing time immediately, combing for four touchdowns in eight games played. Brown has played in all eight games of the Rebels’ season, starting in one of them, while Metcalf played in only two after injuring his foot during the Alabama game and requiring season-ending surgery. “(Brown) is going to help with D.K. and Tre along with the guys that are already here,” Freeze said. “His deal is just understanding the different leverages in coverage and how that changes a route from time to SEE IMPACT, 13
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Friday, November 4, 2016
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BRUCE NEWMAN
Defensive end Fadol Brown (6) has been plagued by a foot injury all season, but the the senior, who’s played in Ole Miss’ last two games, is focused on finishing his senior season strong.
Brown aims to get ‘groove back’ at end of final season BY JAKE THOMPSON jake.thompson@oxfordeagle.com
To say Fadol Brown’s final season has been one he’d like to have a do-over with would be quite the understatement. The senior defensive end suffered an injury last season that required two surgeries to repair it. As summer rolled over into fall camp, the injury was still lingering for Brown, causing pain to continue to be an issue throughout August. The result of that was Brown playing sparingly in the first two games against Florida State and Wofford with minimal impact. The injury was one that was not going to go away as quickly as Brown would like, causing head coach Hugh Freeze to announce it was going to be a “long-term” situation. Brown would sit out the next four games.
“It was frustrating,” Brown said. “Anybody that’s been through any kind of injury or has surgery knows what it’s like. You’re like in your own little circle. You can’t do what you want to do or do what you can do to help the team. Just got to find ways to stay positive and help anyway that you can.” After an absence that lasted nearly a month and a half, Brown returned to the field on Oct. 22 against LSU in Baton Rouge. He played 19 snaps and totaled three tackles in his return. Last week against Auburn, he improved his productivity slightly, recording five tackles and sacking Tigers quarterback Sean White once. “I felt kind of rusty,” Brown said of his LSU performance.” I haven’t been getting a whole lot of practice time. I have been practicing a good bit but not as much as SEE GROOVE, 12
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BRUCE NEWMAN
Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly is putting up more record-setting numbers, but the senior would like more wins to go with them.
Productive senior season turning bittersweet for Kelly There are many reasons Ole Miss finds itself trying to salvage a bowl game entering the final month of the season. The play of Chad Kelly isn’t one of them. Kelly was the runaway selection for firstteam All-Southeastern Conference quarterback in the preseason and has only further validated that nod with a strong senior season. He leads the league in passing yards (2,532), touchdown passes (18) and total offense (2,841 yards) while setting virtually every school passing record, stats that are all the more impressive considering a porous defense and non-existent running game have increased the pressure on Kelly and his receivers to be more and more productive with each passing week. But there are only two numbers that matter to him right now. “We’re 3-5,” Kelly said. “You can’t get
past that. It stinks that that’s the case right now.” Kelly’s latest performance was perhaps his best. He completed a career-high 36 passes on a school-record 59 attempts for a school-record 465 yards against Auburn last week, breaking the previous mark of 439 yards set by Archie Manning against Alabama in 1969. He extended his own school record of consecutive games with a touchdown pass to 21 and added a team-high 40 rushing yards to finish with 505 total yards, the second-most yards of offense in a single game in school history behind Manning (540). “I would have to say it’s way up there against that defense,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said of where the performance ranked for Kelly since he’s been at Ole Miss. “Really thought Chad played really well.” SEE KELLY, 13
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THE RECRUITING FILE
Ole Miss still in heavy pursuit of Clinton star RB Akers BY JAKE THOMPSON jake.thompson@oxfordeagle.com
When National Signing Day rolls around in February there will be a handful of players from Mississippi who will have the attention of everyone in the state, as well as outside of it. Clinton’s Cam Akers is one of those players. The Arrows’ senior running back, who can double as a quarterback, is one of the state’s most hotly contested players, and Ole Miss is right in the thick of it. “I don’t know if I’d say he’s one of a kind, but he’s one of the best running backs in the last half-century to come out of the state of Mississippi,” David Johnson, recruiting analyst and publisher of Rebels247, said. “I do think he’s the best running back prospect to come out of a Mississippi school since Marcus Dupree. He’s a special talent, no doubt.” Akers, a consensus five-star prospect, has used his 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame to put up monster numbers for Clinton this season. The senior has 3,290 yards of total offense through the Arrows’ first 10 games of
the season. Of those yards, 1,106 have come on the ground on 127 carries, and he has scored 18 rushing touchdowns. The other 2,184 yards have come from Akers’ arm where he has completed 113 of 179 attempts and added 23 more touchdowns to his total. “(Akers) is going to play running back in college, but he’s a guy that if he didn’t play running back could play several other positions,” Johnson said. “I think he could play quarterback for probably half the Division I schools in America. No doubt he’s a running back on the next level. He’s a program changer in my opinion.” Ole Miss is still in the hunt for Akers and the top Mississippi school still in play for him with Mississippi State falling out. If the Rebels could land Akers, he would be the type of big-bodied running back they have not had since the Deuce McAllister days along with the speed of a Dexter McCluster. With the weapons returning at the receiver position and Shea Patterson the heir apparent to Chad Kelly’s throne, Akers would do nothing but make the Ole Miss offense even more potent. “He’s an impact player,” Johnson said. “He’s someone who can come into a pro-
CAM AKERS School: Clinton Position: Running back Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 215 lbs The 411: Simply put, everybody in the country wants Akers, a five-star prospect that’s ranked as one of the nation’s top 25 recruits by every recruiting service. Akers listed Ole Miss among his top 10 schools in the spring, but the powerful back has the skill set to make an immediate impact wherever he ends up going.
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gram, particularly one like Ole Miss that does not have a dominant back. He could make an impact as soon as he steps on the field and make the offense at Ole Miss that much better with a legitimate run threat every single snap.” Akers has received offers from nearly all the key players in the Southeastern Conference including Alabama, LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss. He has also received offers from national powerhouses such as Ohio State, which is probably the biggest threat to the Rebels not keeping Akers at home in Mississippi. “I think Cam Akers is the worst kept secret in Mississippi,” Johnson said. “He’s a kid who could write his own ticket in terms of where he wants to go to school. … I think Cam Akers may want to stay home and play his college football in Mississippi.” SUBMITTED PHOTO Akers’ decision will be known in about Clinton’s Cam Akers is one of the nation’s four months. most sought-after recruits.
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WIN: Georgia Southern’s speed, athleticism in option game the next challenge for Ole Miss’ porous run defense FROM PAGE 3 Back-to-back trips to No. 4 Texas A&M and Vanderbilt loom starting next week before the Rebels end the regular season at home against rival Mississippi State. But first things first against a Georgia Southern team that won’t be a pushover given the Rebels’ problems on defense. “Our goal is to go 1-0 this week against a talented Georgia Southern team that rises to play at a very, very high level against teams when they get opportunities,” Freeze said. The Eagles (4-4) have only played one Power Five opponent, and that was a 35-24 loss at Georgia Tech on Oct. 15. But Georgia Southern has continued an option offense under first-year coach Tyson Summers that’s 61st nationally in rushing offense (173.8 yards per game) and will challenge an Ole Miss defense that’s made a habit of being out of position, particularly in the second and third levels. The Rebels have already seen an option offense this season from Wofford, which ran for 248 yards in Ole Miss’ 38-13 win on Sept. 10. “They create option on almost any kind of blocking scheme, whether it be power, counter, zone,” Freeze said of Georgia Southern. “A lot of the time, they are going to have the capability of pulling and running the option, and that’s not the easiest thing to prepare for when you don’t see it that regularly. It is a concern because of their speed and athleticism, but also because of the system. We’ve got a lot of work to do to get zoned in on stopping that.”
Sophomore running back Wesley Fields (21) leads Georgia Southern’s ground game with 423 yards.
Defensively, Georgia Southern ranks in the top 60 nationally in total defense and pass defense, though the Eagles haven’t put a ton of pressure on quarterbacks with just nine sacks. That could be a problem against Kelly and his talented group of wideouts if an offensive line decimated by injuries can give Kelly time to throw. The Rebels just want more points than Georgia Southern when it’s over by any means necessary. “We have to win out. That’s it,” defensive end Fadol Brown said. “That’s just what it is.”
POTTER: Rebels have to care enough down the stretch FROM PAGE 2 strong, but the Auburn loss hit them hard. It’s the most dejected I’ve heard some of them after a loss. Tight end Evan Engram was fighting back tears just talking about it. Can the Rebels really push their disappointment to the side and get back up? Texas A&M aside, I think Ole Miss is more talented than everyone left on the schedule and should go bowling. But
the Rebels can also lose to A&M, Vandy and Mississippi State if they don’t show up, and I wouldn’t put it past Georgia Southern to make things interesting with their option offense against Ole Miss’ abysmal run defense if the Rebels aren’t ready to go Saturday. So will the Rebels continue their downward spiral or salvage a season on the brink? Half the battle is up to them.
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The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
RUSH MEN
GROOVE: Brown finding ways to help on, off the field FROM PAGE 8 the other guys. So just trying to get back in the flow of things and get my groove back.” With Freeze giving the indication that Brown’s injury would not be a quick fix after trying multiple rehabilitation solutions, it was going to come down to how much of a pain tolerance he had and if he could rejoin a defensive unit that was struggling to keep guys on the field due to injuries at every level. Once that was established, Brown knew what obstacle he was going to have to overcome to be able to return. “It’s mental at this point,” Brown said. “We’re 3-5. I’ll worry about (the injury) later. Just focus on finishing strong strong and helping this team do whatever we need to do. … It’s definitely got better. Of course, you’re still going to feel pain, but it is what it is.” Even though he wasn’t able to be on
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Georgia Southern running back Matt Breida is the fourth different Eagle with at least 400 rushing yards this season. The senior leads the team with 105 carries.
WUNDERLICH: Rebs’ kicker stays cool under pressure FROM PAGE 6 Monday through Thursday consists of Ole Miss hitting the practice fields and working on the mistakes they made or improve on that is working well. For Wunderlich and the rest of the kicking staff, practice involves the special teams period taking place at the beginning and then they are allowed to go off and continue working on their own inside the indoor practice facility. “I kind of like doing our team stuff at the beginning and then if I messed up in practice being able to go work on that,” Wunderlich said. Wunderlich also gives praise to his kicking battery of long snapper Will Few and holder Will Gleeson. Gleeson, the team’s main punter, took over this year while Few
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has been the long snapper for the past couple seasons. “We have a really good operation going,” Wunderlich said. “It’s very important. If the snap is not where it needs to be, the holder might miss the spot, and if the holder misses the spot, I’m not going to make the kick. It’s very important. I don’t think a lot of people kind of recognize that.” Wunderlich has not had any game-winning situations during his time at Ole Miss, but if that situation were to ever occur, he does not anticipate ending up on the wrong end of a highlight reel or highlight countdown. “I just kind of treat it as just another kick,” Wunderlich said. “I don’t want to think it as a bigger kick. All kicks are kind of the same.”
“It’s mental at this point. We’re 3-5. I’ll worry about (the injury) later. Just focus on finishing strong and helping this team do whatever we need to do.” Fadol Brown
Ole Miss DE on playing with pain in foot
the field with his teammates a good portion of the first half of the season, when Brown was not in the training room, he was still on the practice field sidelines, helping the younger players on the defensive front as well as his replacement in fellow senior defensive end John Youngblood. “Once I get out on the field, I’ve just been vocal and help,” Brown said. “Anything that I see that I went through. Just little things like that. I try to coach them up and get them right because when we all out on the field on Saturday, that’s where it matters.”
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TOP STOPPER
Friday, November 4, 2016
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KELLY: Only number QB cares about increasing is wins the mix for an SEC championship come season’s end. That hasn’t panned out But it all came in a 40-29 loss — despite Kelly’s production, but there’s the Rebels’ third straight heading still more games on the schedule, which into Saturday’s game against Georgia means more chances for wins. Southern — which had Kelly thinking The Rebels need three of them in their about the numbers last four games to he didn’t have rather “We’ve got to look at it get to a bowl. It’s than the ones he did. differently as another day not exactly how “It still hurts,” Kelly to get better. A lot of us are Kelly envisioned said. “Watching the final collegiate film, we missed on a playing not only for ourselves but our his season going, but couple of things we family and the guys around us. Threehe’ll continue to do definitely wish we could have back. … and-five, it is what it is. We’ve just got to his part in trying to The stats show we did end it on a strong be 1-0 by the next game.” note. pretty well, but out on the field, we probably “We’ve got to Chad Kelly missed on three or look at it differentOle Miss QB on motivation in season’s final month four series we wish we ly as another day could have back, especially in the red zone. You’ve got to turn to get better,” Kelly said. “A lot of us are playing not only for ourselves but our those field goals into touchdowns.” family and the guys around us. ThreeKelly was one of the Rebels’ more outspoken believers in the preseason that and-five, it is what it is. We just got to be the goal for this year’s team was to be in 1-0 by the next game.”
FROM PAGE 9
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Senior linebacker Ironhead Gallon leads Georgia Southern with 71 tackles.
IMPACT: WR combining knowledge with natural talent FROM PAGE 7 time, and he doesn’t have quite a good understanding of that just yet and that’s normal for freshman receivers. Others have been the same way.” In eight games, Brown has caught 18 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. His longest reception of the year went for 37 yards. Brown made his first career touchdown catch against Wofford for 12 yards. Wearing the same number as Treadwell, the expectations increased for Brown, who was a consensus four-star prospect and a
top-five prospect in Mississippi coming out of high school. With a 6-foot-1, 225-pound frame, Brown has been able create separation from defenders and has shown the ability to shed would-be tacklers after the catch. His most recent example of the latter came last Saturday when Brown shook off three Auburn defenders before being tackled to the ground. “I think he’s come a long way,” quarterback Chad Kelly said. “He’s a strong, physical receiver. He’s starting to understand what we’re trying to do and how fast we’re trying to go. Not only that, he’s starting to become more of a playmaker.”
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The Oxford Eagle - Game Day
SEC NOTEBOOK
Alabama-LSU matchup means more of the same BY DAVIS POTTER davis.potter@oxfordeagle.com
What’s college football without high stakes when Alabama and LSU get together? The annual matchup in early November once again has plenty of SEC Western Division championship implications. The top-ranked Crimson Tide will take their unblemished record into Tiger Stadium at night Saturday to tangle with a rejunvenated LSU team that’s a game behind Alabama in the division standings and found itself at No. 13 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday. Both teams had an extra week to prepare with open dates last week. “This is obviously one of the biggest games of the year. It always is,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “This game always
BRUCE NEWMAN
Ed Orgeron is 3-0 since taking over as LSU’s interim coach, but a win over Alabama on Saturday would be the most meaningful as he vies for the permanent job.
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has significance in our division, and it certainly does this year.” LSU (5-2, 3-1 SEC) is 3-0 since former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron took over for Les Miles as interim coach last month. Orgeron could make a serious case for the permanent job with a win over the Crimson Tide while Saban tries to improve on his 7-3 record against his former team to keep Alabama ahead of the Tigers, Auburn and Texas A&M, all of whom are nipping at the Tide’s heels with one conference loss apiece. Both sides have different concerns heading in. Orgeron’s is finding a way for his offense to neutralize the Tide’s stout defensive front long enough to move the ball. “It all starts with that great technique they have up front,” Orgeron said. “All those guys are really good players.” For Saban, it’s making sure a secondary
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that’s without safety Eddie Jackson (broken leg) for the rest of the season doesn’t fixate its collective eyes too much on LSU star running back Leonard Fournette against an LSU offense that’s taking more deep shots. “I think their play-action game and vertical passing game is something that they’ve always had, but I think it’s more effective now relative to the skill guys and quarterback,” Saban said. “They’ve made a lot more explosive plays.” Alabama has won five straight in the series. LSU hasn’t beaten the Tide in Baton Rouge since 2010. “It will be an excellent atmosphere,” Orgeron said. “We’ll be ready to go.”
Brushing it off
The College Football Playoff selection committee surprised many by pegging Texas A&M, not unbeaten Washington, as the fourth-ranked team in the first set of rankings released Tuesday, which would have the Aggies competing for a national title if the playoffs started today. But they don’t. While Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin said he’s happy for the school and the fans with the recognition that comes with a top-4 ranking, he said he reminded his team none of it matters right now. The Aggies (7-1, 4-1) still have four games left starting with a trip to Mississippi State on Saturday. “There’s a lot of football to be played,” Sumlin said. “Whatever the rankings were going to be and whatever was going to happen, the most important thing was to win next week. This team has done that and I think has done a really good job of blocking out noise all year.”
Staying positive
Things have spiraled on Tennessee in a hurry. A loss to a .500 South Carolina team last week was the third straight for the Volunteers (5-3, 2-3) and has a team that was recently ranked in the top 10 looking up at Florida and Kentucky in the Eastern Division standings. Making matters worse was head coach Butch Jones’ announcement this week that star running back Jalen Hurd, a fivestar signee in the Vols’ 2014 recruiting class, will transfer. Jones admitted he was curious to see how the preseason favorite to win the division would handle the negativity swirling around the program heading into Saturday’s game against Tennessee Tech, but he hasn’t had any complaints.
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Friday, November 4, 2016
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SATURDAY’S SEC SLATE - Georgia Southern at Ole Miss, 11 a.m. (ESPNU) - Vanderbilt at Auburn, 11 a.m. (ESPN) - Texas A&M at Mississippi St., 11 a.m. (SECN) - Florida at Arkansas, 2:30 p.m. (CBS) - Missouri at South Carolina, 3 p.m. (SECN) - Tennessee Tech at Tennessee, 3 p.m. (SECN+) - Georgia at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m. (SECN) - Alabama at LSU, 7 p.m. (CBS)
“Our players came in, and they’ve had a great workmanlike approach,” Jones said. “They’re very, very driven right now and very hungry, and that’s been great to see. I was kind of waiting to see how they would respond, and I’ve really liked the way they’ve responded so far.”
First-year help
Missouri’s Barry Odom is trying to lean on the advice of his peers as he goes through the rest of what’s been a tough first season at the helm. It’s the first head job at any school for Odom after stints as a defensive coordinator at Memphis and Missouri, and he’s talked with Vanderbilt’s Derek Mason and Kentucky’s Mark Stoops — coaches who took similar paths to the top of the profession — on how to handle it all. “For me in this situation, I think it’s important to get as much information as I can,” Odom said. “I’m always trying to learn from others on when they have had success, why they had success. They went through the process before.” Success has been hard to come by for Odom in his rookie season. The Tigers are in the cellar of the East standings at 2-6 overall and don’t have a conference win with a trip to South Carolina waiting Saturday. Odom won’t get secrets on schemes or game plans from the coaches he’s competing against, but he’s getting some help along the way. “I think in this profession, we all share ideas,” said Mason, who coordinated Stanford’s defense before being hired at Vanderbilt. “I talk to guys in the offseason about different things in the program. If they don’t get it from you, they get it from somebody else.”
BRUCE NEWMAN
Alabama coach Nick Saban is 7-3 against his former team and has led the Crimson Tide to five straight wins over LSU heading into Saturday’s showdown.
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THE GROVE
BRUCE NEWMAN
Some information to know about Ole Miss’ campus and the Grove — Campus, the Grove and the Circle will open at 7:30 a.m. each Friday before a home football game and close three hours after the end of the game or at midnight, whichever comes first. All tailgating areas will be cleared from 6:30-7:30 on Friday. — All spaces are first come, first serve with the exception of approved university-sponsored tents. — Tents measuring 12x20 or smaller are permitted while tents requiring stakes are not. If a tent is determined to be too large or is housing unacceptable activities, the owner or vendor will be asked to reduce the size of the tent or it will be removed.
through doors of campus buildings. Only electrical outlets on the exteriors of buildings may be used. — Electrical circuits are not to be overloaded by plugging in multiple extension cords by using splitters or power strips. Circuits that are tripped will not be reset. — No solicitation, including commercial or political advertisement or handouts, is allowed. — Open flame, propane tanks and propane bottles are strictly prohibited.
— Drinking is illegal for anyone under the age of 21. Individuals and tent groups that do not follow alcohol regulations will be subject to removal and/or arrest.
— Amplified sound is prohitited.
— Portable generators with a decibal level of 60db or less are permitted.
— Do not leave valuables unattended. The university is not responsible for tents or items left alone.
— No extension cords will be allowed to run across streets or sidewalks. — No extenstion cords will be allowed to be run or pass through open windows or
— Help keep the Grove and the Circle litter-free by placing all recyclables in designated recycling bins and other trash in proper receptacles.