Ole Miss Grove Bowl showcases blending of talented newcomers with returning veterans
OXFORD, Miss. – The 2023 Grove Bowl was a display of offensive talent, as the Red team topped the Navy 53-52 on a two-point conversion as time expired. Outside of Gainesville, Fla., where the Gators just held a spellbinding 10-7 spring game, the culmination of spring training is supposed to be enjoyable.
It was definitely fun in Oxford Saturday as a number of new players assimilated themselves with some veterans and a few players Ole Miss fans have not seen in too long and gave fans a lot to look forward to this fall.
Just having fun with it. @JaxsonDart ➡️ @qaj4_ ➡️ @JaxsonDart ➡️ @jordantwatkins pic.twitter.com/Qh9y2KSQXG
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
Here are some players and plays The Rebel Walk took note of Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
WELCOME BACK
Michael Trigg
Tight end Michael Trigg came to Oxford with quarterback Jaxson Dart last season from Southern Cal. But Trigg lost most of his season to a broken collarbone and that deprived Dart of a familiar target.
Saturday, however, Trigg grabbed nine passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, and he did so with newcomers throwing him the ball. The Ole Miss coaches put Trigg on the Navy team, while Dart played for the Red.
Matchup Nightmare 😈@mtrigg_ | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/XusTkY10gN
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
If Trigg can do that much damage to a defense without his familiar arm in the spring, look out defenses in the fall.
“If you were me would you throw it to Trigg?” Navy team QB Spencer Sanders said after the game, smiling.
“He’s just an all around talented guy right there. He’s a hell of a player and can make plays that you don’t think anyone can make. He’s just an unbelievable football player, an awesome football player and he’s a great person as well. We are really building that chemistry and I want to build it the best I can.”
Spencer Sanders on Michael Trigg
Ulysses Bentley IV
Running back Ulysses Bentley IV missed time last year after suffering an injury in the third game against Georgia Tech.
Saturday, however, Bentley announced he was healthy. The former SMU player ran for 8.3 yards per carry and a touchdown in the Grove Bowl.
Don't blink 🤫@BentleyDoo | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/8usMHuyZPW
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
He also grabbed a pair of passes for 30 yards and a score. The touchdown was the most impressive play. He carried out a fake on a play-action pass, saw the linebackers buy it, and then ran past them. He was open by a good ten yards when the ball arrived in the end zone. That opens a lot of possibilities in the passing game this fall.
The play design 🥵@Walker_Howard4 ➡️ @BentleyDoo pic.twitter.com/XiDnbnsTFU
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
Quinshon Judkins
Rebels’ star running back Quinshon Judkins looks to be as outstanding as he was last season — when he finished a freshman campaign unlike any Ole Miss running back in history, culminating with being named Freshman All-American.
Judkins was named First Team AP All-SEC as well as AP SEC Newcomer of the Year for 2022. He set the Ole Miss single-season record in both rushing yards (1,567) and rushing touchdowns (16) last season, and he also led the SEC and ranked top 10 nationally in total touchdowns (17) and rushing yards per game (123.0).
If the Grove Bowl is any indication, there will not be a sophomore slump for Q. He ran for 47 yards on 11 carries and a score.
But like Bentley, Judkins showed he is a weapon from the backfield in the passing attack. The sophomore caught four passes for 44 yards and a score.
EZ 🤑@qaj4_ | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/YLsYR10hfJ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
Jaxson Dart
The Rebels’ returning starter at quarterback from last season ended the day Saturday 18-for-37 with 302 yards through the air and one touchdown, also adding 19 yards with his legs.
After the game, Coach Lane Kiffin praised his quarterback’s improvements.
“I’m really excited about Jaxson’s improvement and development, that happens a lot of times. We say in year one to year two big improvement happens at positions in quarterbacks…and this really was year one for him a year ago. He played a little bit out west and in a very different system that really doesn’t translate at all to our system or to a lot of, so he was kind of starting over. I’ve been very pleased to have a lot of improvement.”
Coach Kiffin on Jackson Dart
Wide Receiver U
The wide receivers from last year, Malik Heath and Jonathan Mingo, have gone to greener pastures in pro football. But Saturday showed the cupboard is not bare.
Jordan Watkins, Jalen Knox, Brandon Buckhaulter and J.J. Henry combined for 23 catches of the Rebels’ 49 receptions.
Watkins caught 8 passes for 149 yards, while Henry tallied 7 passes for 108 yards. Knox notched 3 catches for 57 yards and Buckhaulter hauled in 5 receptions for 39 yards.
The receiving corps is intact at Ole Miss, with some additional outstanding receivers out of the game due to injury as returnee Dayton Wade and talented transfer Tre Harris both were unavailable to play Saturday. Transfer tight end Caden Prieskorn played but did not register a catch. Regardless, he has caught the attention of everyone with his play this spring.
Kickers
Kicker Caden Costa missed last season due to an NCAA violation but came on strong Saturday. He made all of of his kicks Saturday, going a perfect 3-for3 in field goals and extra points. It looks as if he has not missed a step from his freshman year.
Newcomer Caden Davis, a transfer kicker from A&M, also had a strong day, going 1-for-1 on field goals and a perfect 7-for-7 on extra points.
There were also some things Ole Miss fans saw in the Grove Bowl that they had not seen before in Oxford. Let’s take a look at those.
WELCOME TO OXFORD
Chris Marshall
Wide receiver Chris Marshall comes to Ole Miss as a transfer from Texas A&M. He caught 4 passes for 89 yards Saturday and showed he has the vertical game to stretch defenses. That will make cornerbacks and safeties respect that part of his game and open things for the Rebels’ running game and short passing attack.
Relentless effort 😮💨@chhris_m | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/ft9yAHMZXX
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
Fred McAfee
Fred McAfee may sound like a familiar name as his father played 14 years in the NFL and a lot of those were with New Orleans. What the sophomore running back from Madison (Miss.) showed Saturday was impressive as he carried 15 times for 80 yards. He seems to have a nose for the first down marker and the ability to get there either by speed or power.
Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard
The two new guys in the Rebels’ QB room showed off all the reasons they were so highly-touted in the transfer portal.
Oklahoma State transfer Sanders demonstrated a strong arm when he needed it and speed when he got onto the perimeter. Perhaps one of the best attributes he showed Saturday was confidence. He stood in the pocket and found receivers and he broke away when the opportunity arose.
.@SpenceSanders is DEALING ♣️♦️♠️♥️
He connects with @LarrySimmons700 for his third passing touchdown of the day! 😤 pic.twitter.com/1gfqA3DiuA
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
Sanders finished 19-of-27 for 265 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. He also ran for 72 yards on just six attempts, scoring one touchdown with his legs. Oh, and he also caught one pass for 50 yards on the flea-flicker. Not a bad day for Sanders with 342 all-purpose yards.
LSU transfer Walker Howard played beyond his freshman year with the Tigers and showed he can not only command offense, but a huddle. He threw the ball well, ran the ball well and when it came down to it, he led the offense when it was needed — both offenses, actually, as he spent time leading the Red and Blue teams Saturday.
Howard’s accuracy was on display as he finished 11-for-13 for 185 yards and three touchdowns. He also notched five carries for 29 yards.
Red Squad storming back 🔴@Walker_Howard4 to @JalenKnox9 for 6️⃣ #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/AXUBPUjTtQ
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
After the game, Howard talked about his experiences thus far with his new quarterback teammates and coaches.
“Both of those two older quarterbacks have done a great job helping me,” Howard said.
“We have all the analyst coaches, we the have the (offensive coordinator), we have a bunch of guys helping me out every single day. I’m working with Coach Gilbert out there going through every day with film. We get better every single day and those guys have pushed me every single day and are helping everyone get better.”
Walker Howard
Coach Kiffin was asked to assess the play of his QBs.
“I’ll be able to evaluate those things a lot better after watching the film, but I thought they made plays,” Kiffin began.
“They made out of rhythm, competitive plays. I thought early there was some really good in rhythm timing plays, some passes to the backs. Then they made some as it went along, you could see the tempo wear down the defense and guys make a lot of plays when the defensive pressure was tired. The idea was in the offseason to improve that room, make it competitive and bring guys in. It’s not just competitive, like everybody thinks, for the first spot— it just makes you have a better room.”
Lane Kiffin on his three QBs
Outstanding defensive players
In all, the Grove Bowl was a chance for the Ole Miss offense to show off its weapons. But there were some defensive stars as well. Defensive lineman J.J. Pegues played well, and transfer John Saunders, Jr., notched 13.5 tackles, one tackle for loss and an interception.
TIP DRILL‼️@john5aunders | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/SCkiYEVj8i
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) April 15, 2023
“Zamari Walton was playing amazing defense and then he got the ball out and I just came over and got that tipped pass,” Saunders said of his interception. “Any opportunity to get a turnover is amazing for the defense to get the ball back to the offense,” Saunders added.
Freshman safety Taylor Groves also excelled in the spring game, collecting 7 tackles for the Red group.
Several defensive transfers have draw rave reviews this spring, including the above-mentioned defensive back Zamari Walton (Georgia Tech) who was credited with 5.5 tackles Saturday.
Transfer linebackers Monty Montgomery (Louisville) and Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste (UCF) also finished with 4 and 4.5 tackles, respectively, while returning starter Khari Coleman added 4.5.
It is worth noting the defense was dictated by the schemes they could run against their offense Saturday, as the Grove Bowl format definitely favored the offensive unit. But it was still apparent the talent Ole Miss has both with returnees and newcomers on the field.
Coach Kiffin talked after the game about the importance of competition and bringing in talented players to add to the roster.
“We hang on this competition because we preach that…,” Kiffin said.
“It’s not just competition why you bring people in, it’s to make your roster better. I think that gets forgotten sometimes when the kids or the parents, they don’t understand. Does that mean you don’t have confidence in our kid? No, it doesn’t, it means we want to win games and we want to have really deep rosters at positions so when things happen other guys are ready to play. It’s not just the competition aspect, it’s the improvement of the overall roster and specific roster for that position… I think as you look at that it’d be really hard to argue that we made poor decisions in what we did if you watched today.”
Coach Kiffin on bringing in transfers
When Mercer comes calling September 2, if Saturday was any indication, Ole Miss will not only be ready, but the Rebels will also show a blend of newcomers and veterans that will impress Ole Miss fans.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
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