A Visit with Ole Miss Men’s Basketball Strength and Conditioning Coach John Reilly: An Inside Look at the Physicality and Mentality of the Rebels’ team
OXFORD, Miss. – Rising sophomore wide receiver Ayden Williams took the podium this week to recap his fall camp and talk about how he looks to improve in Lane Kiffin’s high-powered Ole Miss offense.
Looking back on his freshman year, the Mississippi native logged catches in three of the Rebels’ 13 games, and learned quite a few lessons along the way.
“The biggest challenge for me was getting all the information and being locked in on every small, key detail because that’s what’s going to win you ballgames.“
Alongside Williams, Cayden Lee is another Ole Miss wide receiver entering his second year who looks to make a much larger impact on the team, similar to Ayden.
So far in fall camp, the two have been arguably the most consistent players on the field, looking faster, stronger, and more defined in all aspects of their game. While increasing their physical ability, Williams says they’ve also taken a step forward in their mental comprehension of the game.
“Our games both grew tremendously from year one to year two. Not even just on the field, just knowledge-wise. Understanding how the scheme works, understanding how to fit in the scheme, and things like that.“
– Williams on his and Cayden Lee’s growth
Look at this spectacular catch (below) from Ayden.
While gaining a stronger grasp on the Ole Miss offense, Williams added that he’s also picking up on defensive coverages, giving him a better understanding of where the ball is going before the play is even snapped. Ayden informed the media that one specific reason for his improvements has a lot to do with what the veterans on the roster have provided him with.
“Knowledge. That’s what we get every day in the meeting room. Every day they pass it on, Tre (Harris), J-Wat (Jordan Watkins), Juice (Wells), all of those older guys pass it on, and we just suck it up.”
– Williams on learning from the veterans
Heading into the fall, fans can fully anticipate Ayden Williams taking another step forward in his progression to become a key player in this Ole Miss offense. Until then, be sure to stay tuned with The Rebel Walk for all of your Ole Miss sports updates and more!
Zach Moreth
Zach is a freshman at Ole Miss and is studying Sports Administration. Outside of watching and playing sports, he enjoys spending time with his loved ones and being active. I’m excited to help cover our amazing Ole Miss sports teams!
