Nick’s Notes: Banged Up Rebels turning attention to LSU; Jake Springer, Dannis Jackson visit with media
Ole Miss is coming off a 31-26 victory against Tennessee on the road this weekend. Now, the Rebs turn their attention to a Week 8 matchup against LSU. Head coach Lane Kiffin met with media for his weekly press conference Monday.
Kiffin’s opening statement
“Obviously happy that we won the game. Very much like the week before, I think we left a lot of things out there, especially in the second half. It’s a very difficult place to play with as much energy as I’ve ever been a part of, so it kind of felt at one point like it was a scene from The Gladiator, like a movie in a Roman coliseum.
“I know our players kind of felt that and did some things early that were unusual that happen in that type of environment. It was a lot of stress that they put on us, and we were able to overcome that and hang on at the end. Very high play-count game for the offensive players, over 100 plays in the game. We were already extremely beat up and we’re not in good shape for this week, but it is what it is. People from somewhere have got to step up.“
Coach Lane Kiffin
Matt Corral’s Status
Against the Vols, quarterback Matt Corral ran the ball 30 times — not normally a stat you see from a quarterback at the collegiate level. It was actually the first time anyone in an Ole Miss uniform carried the ball that many times since BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2007.
“That’s not a stat that I’m excited about.” Lane Kiffin noted
“We’d like for that to be a running back and not our 200-pound quarterback, so he’s not in very good shape, hasn’t been for the past two days. Hopefully he will play but I do not feel good about that right now.”
Lane Kiffin on Matt Corral’s status
Return of Jake Springer
Against Tennessee, safety Jake Springer saw his first game action since the season opener against Louisville. “Jake played with phenomenal effort for a guy who really hadn’t done anything for about a month (due to injury),” said Coach Kiffin.
In the game against the Vols, Springer finished with 11 tackles, one tackle for loss, and one sack.
Welcome Back Jake Springer pic.twitter.com/spVctdJyxE
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) October 17, 2021
He seemed unaffected by the time he missed, explaining what he did to keep himself in the best shape he could. “During practice I would be doing conditioning and defensive back footwork and breaks and stuff like that, just to keep my legs ready and conditioned,” Springer said.
Coach Kiffin continues to talk about what an integral part of the defense Springer is.
“(I) just help as much as I can, wherever I need to and be versatile,” Springer stated.
“Everyone in our safeties room is versatile and can play a whole lot of different positions so, whenever our number is called just step up and make a play if it comes to us.”
Jake Springer
Big Play Dannis
With wide receivers Jonathan Mingo out and Braylon Sanders injured during the game against Tennessee, the Rebels needed a receiver to step up, and that’s what Dannis Jackson did.
He played 75 of the Rebels’ 103 plays, finishing with two catches for 42 yards and a touchdown, the first score of his career at Ole Miss.
“It was big (playing in the game), but it’s nothing I really haven’t been prepared for. I’ve been the getting reps and things like that so at that point I just had to execute the plan.”
Ole Miss wide receiver Dannis Jackson
Jackson’s score came on 33-yard pass from Matt Corral that was beautifully orchestrated, a pump fake from Corral and a double-move from Jackson.
Fake by Corral and then the 33-yard toss to Dannis Jackson for the score.#OleMiss 17 – 9 Tennessee pic.twitter.com/uxZNFzJLl5
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) October 17, 2021
“We needed guys to step up and he made a huge play on the slant and go.” Lane Kiffin said of Jackson’s catch.
“Hopefully that builds his confidence, and again that was a highly unusual place to play. When it’s sold out, that place (Neyland Stadium) is rocking anyway, but with all of that combined, for him to go into that environment and make a big play like that, to me that builds confidence and tells us that he should be able to do this and continue this, especially now as we come back home.”
Coach Kiffin on Dannis Jackson’s performance
“I already had confidence in myself.” Jackson said. “Once I made that play it just showed me it can be done and I just need to go do it again, every opportunity I get.”
Up Next:
Ole Miss and LSU kick off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway.
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Nick Filipich
Nick Filipich was born and raised in Biloxi, MS. He is an Ole Miss alum with a degree in Sports and Recreation Administration. A sports junkie with a great passion for all things Ole Miss, Nick played baseball and football in high school — which is where he discovered his love for sports. He is an avid Braves and Saints fan, and in his free time enjoys spending time with family, friends and his black lab, Dixie.
