Ole Miss’ Daijahn Anthony made big plays against LSU, but knows the Rebels will be tested again by Arkansas: ‘Every single game is another big game’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss didn’t have long to enjoy last Saturday’s win over LSU as a new challenge in the form of the Arkansas Razorbacks presents itself this weekend in Oxford. The Rebels (4-1, 1-1 SEC) and Hogs (2-3, 0-2 SEC) have each gotten the best of one another over the course of the last few seasons. In the last six matchups between the two teams, each owns three wins.
Ole Miss is coming off the big 55-49 win over the Tigers, and while it was a shootout between the offenses, the Rebel defense did make some pivotal plays that made the difference in the game. Two of those game from safety Daijahn Anthony.
First, Anthony delivered a big hit on LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels that jarred the ball loose and allowed Trey Washington to recover the fumble, stopping the Tigers’ drive.
Here’s the hit on LSU QB Jayden Daniels by @daijahn5 that forces the fumble recovered by Trey Washington! #HYDR pic.twitter.com/llmzWETmIU
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) September 30, 2023
Ole Miss gave up 49 points against LSU, but the Rebs were able to get two big stops in the fourth quarter that enabled the offense to rally. The go-ahead score from the Ole Miss offense with under a minute to play was nothing short of amazing, but let’s not forget the guts the defense showed in the final seconds of the game to secure the win.
That brings us to a second big play from Anthony. With a mere five seconds to go in the game and the Tigers on the Ole Miss 26-yard line, a pressured Daniels scrambled and threw a pass into the Ole Miss end zone that caused every Rebel watching to hold their breath. But Anthony was there to defend and stop the LSU receiver from scoring what would have been the game-winning score.
“I read the quarterback and saw where he was going to throw it. I broke toward that receiver and jumped as high as I could to deflect the pass. I was praying he wasn’t going to catch it.”
Daijhan Anthony on the final play of the game
🏈 On the field with Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin as students storm the field.
13-LSU 49
20-Ole Miss 55
FinalYes, Kiffin had a new visor when he came to the postgame press conference.@OleMissFB @OleMissSports @suntarine @aydenwilliams74 pic.twitter.com/Q6gV7DTqxM
— David Edelstein 🌐 (@davidzedelstein) October 1, 2023
Although the Ole Miss defense gave up 637 total yards and 49 points, Anthony still had confidence in his teammates to stand tall when it mattered.
“It just shows how strong we are. That comes back to all the work we put in in the summer. Just trusting in the next person beside you and playing for the person beside you because everyone knows that game could’ve gone any way.”
Daijahn Anthony on the defense’s play late vs. LSU
Anthony joined Ole Miss before fall camp after transferring from Liberty where he played two seasons. He currently has 20 tackles for the Rebels, a tackle for loss, a team-leading four pass breakups and an interception through five games this season.
Ole Miss will face quite the challenge in Oxford on Saturday. Once again, for the third straight game, they will be tasked with defending a quarterback who can make plays with both his arm and legs in KJ Jefferson.
“The quarterback we just faced (Daniels), he is a little bit faster, but KJ is a real big guy,” Anthony said.
“That’s one thing we have to emphasize this week — wrapping up and tackling. Because one person can’t just leg-tackle him and think we’re going to get him down. It’s going to take the whole defense rallying and just pursuing to the ball every single play.”
Daijahn Anthony on KJ Jefferson
Although Ole Miss did not beat Arkansas last year, Anthony played on a team that did. The week before the Rebels fell to Arkansas, Anthony and his Liberty team defeated the Hogs, 21-19, in Fayetteville on a goal-line stand with 1:11 to go in the game.
Anthony knows his defensive unit will have to contain Jefferson and running back Rocket Sanders who has returned from injury.
“There’s a lot of things we have to get better on because nobody’s perfect and we just have a lot of things we have to see, watch on film this week and just perfect throughout practice,” he noted.
Arkansas is averaging 33.6 points per game, but the Hogs gave up seven sacks and a whopping 15 tackles for loss last Saturday against A&M. Still, Anthony knows this will be yet another hard-fought conference game.
“That’s the fun thing about this SEC. Every single game is another big game, so you learn from it and you’re ready to go get better.”
Daijahn Anthony
The raucous environment last week against LSU was indeed a difference maker as the crowd set an all-time Vaught-Hemingway attendance record — and stayed for the entirety of the game — cheering on the Rebels at every turn.
Rebels win!! Rebels win!!!
Final score: Ole Miss 55, LSU 49 pic.twitter.com/55aZxbewln— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) October 1, 2023
Kickoff in Oxford is set for 6:30 p.m, and the game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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.
