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Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze was disappointed with last week’s loss to Auburn, but he knows the three-game losing streak may not end if the team doesn’t take its next opponent seriously.
“Our team is determined, and 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.
Ole Miss (3-5) has lost a lot of opportunities. As good as it is to focus on a 1-0 week, the Rebels are nowhere close to where they wanted or thought they would be. There are four games to go, the biggest two at No. 7 Texas A&M and vs. Mississippi State for the Egg Bowl. But the rest of the season starts unceremoniously on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT against Georgia Southern.
Without any preseason goals remaining, Freeze has talked about players on this team leaving with a work ethic that has been established and continuing to build on a very successful five years. Here are five players who need to start accomplishing that new goal on Saturday to drive the Rebels where they want to go.
A.J. Brown: The true freshman receiver is fifth on the team in catches. He has 18 for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns. He had back-to-back-to-back catches in the second half on Saturday and has flashed his ability to make tough catches and outman defensive backs. That’s what made him a top recruit and what will make him an elite receiver for the next few seasons.
Greg Little: The true freshman left tackle has also shown why he was so highly sought after. He is playing with an offensive line that has been tough to judge because of injuries and unexpected rotation. But he has impressed and is only going to continue to. Little should dominate Georgia Southern and has a shot to have a breakout against A&M.
DeMarquis Gates: The junior linebacker leads the team in tackles again with 53. The numbers are decent, though not equal with some of the best tacklers in the SEC. That said, he does have 5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. He should return as the leader of the defense but can’t afford to be suspended for games like he was against Memphis. He is a numbers leader but also needs to be a team leader.
Zedrick Woods and Myles Hartsfield: A combo pick at defensive back. Ole Miss hasn’t exactly been an example to follow in the secondary. The Rebels are ranked ninth in the conference in passing defense, and its six interceptions are tied for the third-fewest. But Woods, a sophomore, is second on the team in tackles and has a couple of those picks. He has started all eight games. After a stellar spring, Hartsfield, a true freshman, also has started all eight games and is tied for sixth on the team in tackles.
Van Jefferson: The redshirt freshman impressed in spring and hasn’t slowed. He has caught 30 balls for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns. Jefferson in the slot and Brown, DK Metcalf and DaMarkus Lodge on the outside has a ton of firework potential over the next few seasons.
