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Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss won’t see defensive end Cedric Johnson on the field during the Peach Bowl.
Kiffin confirmed that Johnson will be opting out at Tuesday’s bowl game presser. The Ole Miss head coach joked that he jinxed himself, then clarified that the rest of the team who made the trip to Atlanta are playing in the game.
“I probably jinxed myself…kind of a surprise to us,” said Kiffin. “Cedric Johnson decided not to play in the bowl game. We’ll miss him. But everybody else is here.”
Coach Kiffin on opt outs: “I probably jinxed myself…kind of a surprise to us. Cedric Johnson decided not to play in the bowl game. We’ll miss him. But everybody else is here.”
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) December 26, 2023
Playing in the SEC definitely has its benefits. Kiffin noted how he wasn’t trying to take shots at any conferences, but that the numbers speak for themselves when it comes NFL talent.
“I just think it’s so balanced and there’s so much elite talent,” said Kiffin. “That’s not disrespecting any other conference…and I think the draft shows that…we play elite players and really elite coaches and you play in really really hard environments, very difficult environments to play in…”
Coach Kiffin on playing in SEC: “I just think it’s so balanced and there’s so much elite talent. That’s not disrespecting any other conference…and I think the draft shows that…we play elite players and really elite coaches and you play in really really hard environments, very…
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) December 26, 2023
Lastly, Kiffin mentioned how pumped he is to compete against a coach like James Franklin.
“We’re excited to be here, to be part of this huge matchup, big-time bowl came, to be able to play Coach Franklin and Penn State…this is a really big challenge for us,” said Kiffin. “Excited to be in Atlanta with a lot of events to do and a lot of work to do…”
Coach Kiffin at Peach Bowl press conference: “We’re excited to be here, to be part of this huge matchup, big-time bowl came, to be able to play Coach Franklin and Penn State…this is a really big challenge for us. Excited to be in Atlanta with a lot of events to do and a lot of…
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) December 26, 2023
The Rebels and Nittany Lions will meet on the gridiron Saturday at noon ET on ESPN/ESPN+.
Grant Bricker was a former freelancer for The News TN in his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee. He now freelances for Saturday Football. Follow on Twitter @GrantBricker.
