Check it Out: Many of Ole Miss’ Top Players Participating in Practice Ahead of Rebels’ Gator Bowl Game
OXFORD, Miss. — On Saturday, the Ole Miss football team held its first football practice of the postseason, and many of the top players are participating ahead of the team’s January 2nd Gator Bowl.
One of the main questions fans are wondering is how many of the Rebels will be in Jacksonville for the bowl game and how many will opt out to prepare for their NFL careers? While we don’t have an exact number, we can tell you it looks as if the Ole Miss team will be largely intact.
In photos released by Ole Miss, we see Jaxson Dart, Austin Simmons, Walter Nolen, Caden Prieskorn, Suntarine Perkins, John Saunders, Jr., JJ Pegues, Ulysses Bentley IV, Trey Amos, and Zxavian Harris.
Jaxson Dart
Austin Simmons
Walter Nolen
Caden Prieskorn
Suntarine Perkins
John Saunders, Jr.
JJ Pegues
Ulysses Bentley IV
Trey Amos
Zxavian Harris
It’s noteworthy to see Nolen, Prieskorn, Saunders Jr., Pegues, Bentley and Amos practicing as they all look to enter this year’s upcoming draft. Many players in their position elect to opt out of their team’s bowl game to start preparations for the Combine (if they’re invited) and the draft.
Head coach Lane Kiffin was asked in a zoom press conference with Duke head coach Manny Diaz if he expects to have many opt outs, as do many teams across the country.
“It’s a while until we play, but it seems like even our players that maybe were in question of playing and opting out for the draft as of right now all said that they’re playing, so that’s exciting. That says a lot about this team, in an age where that isn’t the case a lot of times. It says a lot about this team with how close they are and how they feel about the Gator Bowl, playing a really good Duke team.”
Lane Kiffin
Kiffin explained that from what he knows thus far, he expects to have his team pretty much intact. Defensive backs Trey Amos and Trey Washington, along with defensive end Jared Ivey, wide receiver Jordan Watkins and quarterback Jaxson Dart have all indicated via social media they will be playing against Duke.
”Things could change, but as of today, we’ve had conversations with all the guys. No one has said they’re not playing. There’s still a lot of time between now and the game. (But) Seems like it’s heading that direction.”
Lane Kiffin
One player with whom Kiffin had a conversation is quarterback Jaxson Dart. The three-year starter for Kiffin made it clear he’s going to be suited up for the bowl game.
“Probably last week, I asked him if he was playing,” Coach Kiffin began. “I told him the possible bowls we were hearing. He said he was definitely playing and wanted to play his last game with these guys. He encouraged some of these other guys that are in that in between position of playing or opting out. Seems like the majority of those guys are all heading towards playing in this game. Pretty neat. (Dart) has been an amazing leader, setting a bunch of records here. Just how he’s been as a leader and how much he’s meant to this university is awesome. This is another example of him making sure he finished what he started,” Kiffin explained.
One player we know who will not be participating in the bowl game is linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr., who announced via social media Saturday that he will not return to Ole Miss for his final season as he declared for the NFL Draft.
Next Up
The Rebels will face Duke on Thursday, January 2nd in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl. Kickoff is set for 6:30 pm CT and the game will be televised 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.
