Leader of the ‘Shiver:’ Ole Miss DL Jared Ivey Talks 2024 Season, New Additions, and Personal Goals
OXFORD, Miss. — Did you know a group of sharks is called a ‘shiver?’ That seems wildly appropriate as one would be fairly likely to shiver when looking across at the talent, size, speed and strength of the Ole Miss Landshark defense these days.
As the Rebels begin their 2024 campaign, perhaps one of the biggest factors in how successful the Ole Miss team, as a whole, will ultimately be is going to be found in the performance of the defensive line. Led by returnees Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues, and bolstered by some outstanding transfer portal additions in Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen, the Rebel d-line is expected to be quite the force.
First day of media availability for Ole Miss spring football. Here are some D-line drills from today, the group featured here is as listed:
No. 0 – Joshua Harris
No. 1 – Princely Umanielen
No. 2 – Walter Nolen
No. 4 – Suntarine Perkins
No. 15 – Jared Ivey
No. 95 – Akelo Stone… pic.twitter.com/el60Nlfc9R— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) March 19, 2024
We visited with Jared Ivey, the cerebral leader of the unit, last month and got his thoughts on the season, the new additions and his own personal goals.
When the 2023 football season concluded, Ivey faced a pivotal decision. Should he declare for the NFL draft or return to Ole Miss for the 2024 season? After careful deliberation, he chose to return, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the Rebel football momentum and the pursuit of a national championship for Ole Miss.
At SEC Media Days last month, Ivey shared his insights on the upcoming season, inspiring the audience with his dedication and resilience.
Personal Goals
Ivey has personal goals for this year, as well as the obvious goals he shares with the Ole Miss defense for the 2024 season.
“I think, personally, I just want to enjoy my last year in college, being around my teammates and doing something great with them,” Ivey explained.
“Personally, I think the biggest thing for me is just having fun with it and just taking each day, day by day. And then, as a team, just going 1-0. It’s our big mantra right now. It’s what we’ve got plastered in the locker room. Just going 1-0 and taking each week as it comes and having that new season mentality.”
Jared Ivey
#7 days away Ole Miss football.
Who remembers when Jared Ivey forced this massive fumble to help #14 Ole Miss upset #7 Kentucky in Oxford back in 2022?
Ole Miss 22-19 Kentucky
— T.J. (@TJOxley1) August 24, 2024
Keeping eyes on the man in the mirror
Head coach Lane Kiffin’s philosophy of high praise and lofty expectations being considered “rat poison” has infiltrated the locker room. This philosophy, which emphasizes the team’s focus on its own internal process and the belief that external praise can be detrimental, has shaped the team’s mindset.
Ivey knows that what others say isn’t what matters, and he understands how the team must keep the expectations of others in perspective. “It’s impossible not to see…it’s something that we actively just block out,” he explained.
“I feel like we’re so internally focused, and I’m worried about myself and the guy next to me and what I can immediately control. When you’re that obsessed with your own process, it’s easy to block all the outside stuff out.”
Jared Ivey on blocking out the noise
With so much noise out in the social media world, Ivey and his teammates have adopted the mentality of blocking it all out.
“You know, it’s there. It is what it is,” Ivey commented. “You know what this generation is. You can’t stop anything from being said online. So, we just kind of take a mindset and try to look inward and keep our eyes on a man in the mirror and just focusing on, you know, getting myself right and then the guys around me and leading the guys around me to just be 1-0 each day.”
Getting Crafty with It
With so many veteran players returning, Ivey was asked what Saturdays will look like for this year’s Landshark defense.
“Just another year familiar with the defense and the offense, another year under your belt to have an offseason where you’re continuing to learn deeper about the scheme,” he said. “Obviously, that first year when you put in the scheme, you’re putting in the basics and stuff like that, but now we can really open things up and get crafty, and guys can take on more and handle that this year. I’m very excited about that.”
We are excited about No. 8 on our ‘Twenty-two Names to Know for the Ole Miss Season,’ DE Jared Ivey!
“Ivey’s skills, versatility and leadership will be dynamic for the Ole Miss defensive line this fall.”
READ: ⤵️https://t.co/fOJuWI0WsP
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) August 24, 2024
If Pete Golding’s defense gets craftier, look out, opponents!
Evolution of the Xs and O’s
Ivey was asked to compare how he thinks about football now, compared to how he viewed it three years ago.
He explained how his understanding of the game has evolved.
“I think cerebral and just deep into picture pages and things like that, but I’ve always thought like that about the game. Since high school, I have had such a great coaching staff, great players, and influential guys around me. We used to stay after practice two, three hours some nights watching films, so just being familiar with schematics and things like that. I’m a big Xs and Os guy. It really excites me to see stuff on the page and then watch it come together on the field.”
Jared Ivey on the mental side of the game
Pete Golding’s Philosophy
In addition to a better understanding of the game, Ivey credited defensive coordinator Pete Golding with instilling a philosophy that has proved effective and impactful.
“You’ve got to play physical, smart, and then fast. You’ve got to play physical immediately. It’s a physical game, the physical nature of it, but then on top of that, you’ve got to play smart. You’ve got to understand situations and understand how you fit into the grand scheme of the defense. One guy out of place can get us gassed, so having everybody take a smart approach like that, it’ll make you play way faster. It’s like dicing an onion. If you know what you’re doing, you don’t even think about it. You just go. You understand the width of how each slice needs to be made, and you can just chop it fast.”
Jared Ivey on Pete Golding’s defensive philosophy
It Just Means More
Ivey transferred in to Ole Miss from Georgia Tech in 2022. He was asked to comment on what advice he would give to players from Oklahoma and Texas as they join the SEC this season. “That’s a very interesting question,” Ivey remarked. “I was one guy, so obviously moving an entire program, an entire city, and that and taking on what it means to be in the SEC is going to be a big deal for them, but I would say just enjoy it and just take it all in,” he commented.
“It’s the best conference in the world. Every kid grows up and wants to play in the SEC. So when I made that decision to make a change, this is where I wanted to be, and it was for a reason, so I wish them well.”
Jared Ivey on the SEC
Iron Sharpens Iron
Ivey was asked to comment on how he viewed the Ole Miss Rebels as a team, talent-wise, compared to other teams in the country, particularly the SEC.
He quickly brought up the work done by the Rebels’ head football strength and conditioning coach, Nick Savage, and what it has meant to the team’s physical preparedness.
“I only know my guys. I only practice with these guys, you know, talent-wise,” Ivey began.
“But, you know, what I can tell you is no team is going to outwork us. We go in there every single day, and we work our tails off. Coach Savage has put together an unbelievable program that I’ve been in the past three years now, and that’s fully changed my game, and I feel like the course of my career. He’s done that for my teammates as well. So, when it comes to just being in it and working and going every single day, I think we’re unmatched.”
Jared Ivey on the Rebels’ physical readiness
Playing together and getting better
The Rebels’ loss to Georgia last season highlighted some needed improvements to make Ole Miss more competitive with championship-caliber teams. Ivey was asked whether or not this year’s roster is better equipped to handle a team like Georgia.
“Last year was pretty lopsided. Yeah, that’s something that’s there, something that we don’t put a lot of thought and mind into and energy into. We obviously pulled unbelievable players in the portal. You can see it. Anybody can see it. So right now, the focus is just building that culture, loving each other, coming together so that we can play for each other. That’s what is the mark of a great team, playing together.”
Jared Ivey
NIL and the Grove Collective
NIL and the transfer portal play intricate roles in completing a roster. Ivey discussed how the Grove Collective has impacted the ability of the Ole Miss football program to retain players and attract new ones.
“Walker (Jones) and the Grove Collective have been such a huge part,” Ivey detailed. “To see it grow from where it was when I first got here and kind of not knowing what it would turn into, not knowing what it would be, not knowing the commitment they were going to get from the businesses in Oxford. I think they really went to work and built those relationships, and that’s what the game is moving towards. I think they do a good job embracing that.”
Up Next
No one knows what the 2024 football season holds, but Rebel fans can rest assured the defense will have a determined and vocal leader in senior Jared Ivey as he helps command his shiver!
The Rebels begin their 2024 campaign against Furman today at 6:00 p.m. in Vaught-Hemingway.
Donna Sprabery
Donna Sprabery is a former teacher, graduation coach, and academic coach for boys basketball. She graduated from the University of West Alabama with a major in business education and from Arkansas State University with a MA in Educational Leadership. A native of Meridian, MS, Donna enjoys traveling, gardening, writing, volunteer work, and cheering on the Rebels.
