Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin Discusses Opening Day of Preseason Camp | ‘Preseason rankings, individual preseason accolades – none of that matters’
by Adam Brown | Jul 31, 2024 | Football, Pre-Season Camp |
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin met with the media on Wednesday afternoon as preseason camp began for the upcoming 2024 season.
The Rebels are coming off an 11-2 mark last season with a 38-25 win over Penn State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Kiffin talked about the start of camp.
“It’s really exciting to be out there after these guys did a really good job, from what we were around and heard, in the summer. Even though, working with them in the spring and summer, there are guys specifically back from injuries that really made today even more exciting to be able to see them together, trying to figure out how they’ll fit.”
Lane Kiffin on getting back out on the field
Coming into the season, Ole Miss is expected to be one of the 12-teams in the playoffs.
“I have spent a lot of time talking to them about outside expectations and hype and accolades and how little those mean. Just because the returning players have had some success and the guys who have played elsewhere and had success, that doesn’t mean anything. I’m just making sure everyone understands that preseason rankings, individual preseason accolades – none of that matters. We have a lot of work to do, but at the same time it’s exciting to have so many pieces to work with to try and gel them together.”
Lane Kiffin on managing expectations
Coming into this season, Kiffin and his coaching staff have added players out of the portal that will give them depth and length.
“We do, for the first time since I have been here, look like a real team…we have a lot of strength and size,” he said.
“I think they have done really well; we research a lot. Recruiting and especially in the portal, we evaluate heavily in how they will fit…just because you sign good portal classes does not mean you win…we just have to put it all together.“
Lane Kiffin
One area Kiffin discussed that is of interest to fans is the running back room. He was asked if he sees a three-man rotation this season, potentially, with Ulysses Bentley IV, Henry Parrish, and Rashad Amos.
Kiffin’s answer made it clear he is just focused on winning.
“I don’t really care how it goes. If one guy carries the load or three or four do,” Kiffin said. “We will just figure out the best way to win and we don’t have a script that says this or that is the way it is supposed to look,” he added.
He echoed his sentiments from SEC Media Days where he said his offensive schemes might not even be the same year to year, so how many carries a running back gets is not paramount.
“Our systems are different from year to year, so rotations and such will be determined with how players produce and adhere to the system. On paper, it may look like the three guys might work well, but we have not put that much thought into it because it will play itself out. I don’t worry about it that way.”
Lane Kiffin
Kiffin was asked about a leader on the defense to go with Jaxson Dart on the offense.
“JJ Pegues, probably for sure. He really has done a great job of investing in other guys,” Kiffin said.
Ole Miss opens the 2024 season at home as they play host to Furman. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on SEC Network+.
(Feature image credit: Kam Wicker, The Rebel Walk)
Adam Brown
Adam Brown joins The Rebel Walk as the Managing Editor after being on the Ole Miss beat as a Sports Editor for over 11 years. He is a lifelong Oxford resident. Brown graduated from the University of Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in journalism.
Prior to The Rebel Walk, Brown was the sports editor of HottyToddy.com covering every Ole Miss sport and local high school sports in the community.
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