Wide receiver Dayton Wade stepping up for the Ole Miss offense: ‘We are not new to this, we are true to this’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss wide receiver Dayton Wade stepped up against Tulane Saturday when his team needed him most. When fellow wide receiver Tre Harris went down early in the game after scoring a touchdown — his fifth of the young season — Wade’s leadership and performance on the field helped right the Rebels’ offensive ship that found itself listing for a brief period.
After Harris’ departure, Ole Miss had only scored three additional points in the entirety of the first half. But in the second half, the Rebs scored 27 points to secure their second win this season with the 37-20 victory over the Green Wave. Wade’s part in that comeback win cannot be underestimated.
Earlier this week, he explained why there was no panic after the Rebels lost Harris.
“You can ask (fellow receiver) Jordan (Watkins), I was telling them the whole time, ‘we are not new to this, we are true to this.’ We have been down before, shorthanded. We have had to make a lot of adjustments before, so to us, we didn’t flinch. We were just like, ‘hey someway, somehow we have to get it done.’“
Dayton Wade
Dayton closed out his week-two performance with a career-high 106 yards on 7 receptions — the most of any receiver on either team.
In addition, the Atlanta, Georgia native also had the most acrobatic catch of the day, in a 43-yard reception which put the Rebels in position to score a crucial touchdown late in the second half.
Dayton Wade with the catch of the day 🔥
— Steven (@stevenxvision) September 9, 2023
According to Wade, his catch was a mere third on his all-time catches list. “My favorite (catch), you’re going to have to watch my high school tape,” Wade said, smiling, to reporters Tuesday when asked what tops the list.
As productive as Wade has been, the Rebs will need him in Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech as they will likely be without their top two receivers, Harris and Zakhari Franklin. They’re also most likely still going to be without starting tight-end Caden Prieskorn for at least another game. Prieskorn injured his toe in fall camp and had surgery before the season began, while Franklin has yet to play and has been predicted to miss the first four weeks or so of the season following a knee procedure before fall camp.
Dart, Mingo and AJ Brown
No one can ever underestimate the connection between a receiver and his quarterback. Despite the early bumps in the road against Tulane, Dayton explained how the grit of Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has played a big role in motivating the Rebs.
“This is my second year with Dart, so I know him outside of football,” Wade began.
“I would say personally we are close, we have conversations. I know how much he wants it. He knows how much I want it, and he showed y’all Saturday how much he really wants it. It was no surprise to me or us. We all know he’s a dog and he’s going to give us all he has no matter what. If he can go, he’s going, so we just rally behind him.”
Dayton Wade on Jaxson Dart
In addition to the current leaders on this Ole Miss team, Wade made it a point this week to discuss how former Rebel star receivers AJ Brown and Jonathon Mingo have helped him.
According to Wade, Brown was in Oxford recently where he dropped some “jewels” of information to the Ole Miss wide receiver room. Wade also says Mingo makes an effort to communicate with him every week.
“Every night before the game, he (Mingo) will Facetime me. He even helped drop some plays before Mercer. That is just what you do as an older receiver and as a leader. You don’t lead by not coaching the younger guys, so it is just a leadership role.”
Dayton Wade on former players who are helping lead
Facing Georgia Tech
Looking into this week’s matchup, Ole Miss hosts Georgia Tech for the second season in a row after demolishing the Yellow Jackets, 42-0, last season.
Wade says he notices Georgia Tech has a lot of returning cornerbacks — with one very important exception who will be missing — Zamari Walton, who transferred from the Yellow Jackets to Ole Miss in January. Walton finished last year’s game against Ole Miss game with eight tackles, more than any cornerback on the field that day.
But regardless of the statistics, analytics, and prior matchups, preparation does not change for any opponent according to Dayton Wade.
“You know, we are just going to play ball. I don’t want to say too much, but we are going to prepare like we are preparing for anybody else. We prepared for Mercer like we were preparing for ‘Bama.”
Dayton Wade
Game info:
Kickoff for Saturday’s game is set for 6:30 p.m. and it will be broadcast on SEC Network.
