Kentucky's defense will need more big plays like the interception by JQ Hardaway against Toledo to beat Ole Miss. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Ole Miss has a new starting quarterback this season but Austin Simmons had an impressive debut last week in a rout of Georgia State. He completed 20 of 31 passes for 341 yards and three scores with two interceptions.
He had backed up Jaxson Dart for two years and led a 75-yard scoring drive in an upset win over then No. 2 Georgia in 2024.
Coach Lane Kiffin’s team had 400 total passing yards and ran for 295 more yards in the 63-7 win. Those 695 yards of total offense were the most in Week 1 of any FBS team.
“The tempo is the first thing,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said Monday when asked about Mississippi’s offense. “Obviously, they go extremely fast, and they dress things up very well. They do what they do, but they present it differently, and they present it very fast. And they have very good players out there doing it. Typically, for them, they’re, they’re good in all areas.
“I’m very impressed with Austin Simmons. They have four transfer wide receivers who are playmakers who can run. Very impressed with their tight ends; very, very good players.”
Ole Miss senior defensive tackle Zxayian Harris was the co-winner of the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week award. Harris led the Rebel defense with five tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one solo sack, two quarterback hurries and the first interception of his career. Harris also got his fingers on a missed field goal attemp, the sixth combined blocked kick of his career – one shy of the all-time SEC record.
T.J. Dottery had nine tackles in the Georgia State win. He had 10 tackles and three quarterback hurries in a 20-17 loss to Kentucky last season in Oxford.
Sophomore running back Kewan Lacy, a Missouri transfer, ran for 108 yards and three scores against Georgia Southern.
“I’ll just tell you how it is. We didn’t have that a year ago, and so it was really good to have it back. I was looking forward to that. Kind of thinking he was going to play like that because that’s how he practices,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “He’s got a unique skill set of speed and power.
“It’s great to see where a ball can break and go score and not get caught. Makes it a lot easier not to call more plays afterwards, so that was great to see.”
2 Responses
Tempo? What about it worries Stoops?
That means Ole Miss will come out to actually engage and play to win.
Stoops plays to not lose.
Stoops therefore will always be a loser!!!!!!!
Unfortunately you are right Prof.