Lane Kiffin discusses status of Ole Miss running back Ulysses Bentley: ‘It’s a fair question’
OXFORD, Miss. — Many Ole Miss fans have plenty of questions after the Rebels’ 20-17 loss to Kentucky this past Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway. But perhaps no more prevalent question is being asked than why Ole Miss isn’t using Ulysses Bentley IV at running back in tandem with Henry Parrish and Matt Jones.
And that’s certainly a valid question.
In 2023, Bentley rushed for 540 yards on 95 carries for a whopping 5.7 yards-per-carry average. Through five games in 2024, he’s only carried 16 times.
Against the Wildcats, the Rebels rushed for only 92 yards on 29 carries — a 3.2 yards-per-carry average.
On the season, Parrish, who is Ole Miss’ starter at the position, has carried 70 times for 489 yards. That’s a very solid 7.0 yards-per-carry average. Matt Jones, a former walk-on, has carried 33 times for 209 yards, a 6.3 yards-per-carry average.
Head coach Lane Kiffin was asked at his Monday press conference if he looks for Bentley to be used in a greater capacity this season.
“I don’t know. It’s a fair question. I get asked that every week. Those other guys are doing well. I thought they protected well. It’s nothing against Bentley, it just is how it is. But I can’t predict how the future is going to go.”
Lane Kiffin on if Bentley will be used more
Coach Kiffin when asked if we might see more of RB Ulysses Bentley IV:
“…It’s nothing against Bentley. It just is how it is. But I can’t predict how the future is going to go.”
(🎥: @KarisChambliss, Rebel Walk) pic.twitter.com/ieZY4VjueF
— The Rebel Walk (@TheRebelWalk) September 30, 2024
Back in September after the Wake Forest game, Coach Kiffin was also asked about Bentley’s lack of playing time.
“That’s nothing negative about Bentley. I think that there’s some of that in our program. We have a really good roster of players — there’s cost and benefit for everything. There’s a huge benefit to having all of these good players — you have a chance to be really good — the cost is everybody doesn’t get to play as much as they’d like and that’s happened all over the place. That’s happened with a number of our players, so this is not anything Bentley has done. The other two guys have played extremely well. He missed time in the spring (due to injury), and we have great confidence in him.”
Lane Kiffin on Bentley after Wake Forest game
Last week, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was asked about Bentley’s status as RB3 and how the running back is handling it.
“I have a ton of respect for him, and don’t get it twisted, in a few weeks, things could turn around and he could be a star and a guy that really takes over a game. That’s kind of what I expect from him. Anytime he’s in the game, he’s a special player and I think that there’s going to be opportunities this year where he’s going to come in the game and really excel.”
Jaxson Dart on Bentley IV
As Ole Miss heads to South Carolina to play the Gamecocks, lets hope the Rebels leave with more answers than questions.
Next Up
Ole Miss and South Carolina are set for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff this Saturday, October 5, at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
