Ole Miss Players Emphasize Chemistry, Leadership, and Preparation as Fall Camp is Underway
OXFORD, Miss. — As the season opener against Georgia State quickly approaches, the Ole Miss football team has begun fall camp in preparation for the game on August 30th. Rebel players met with the media on Tuesday after the first day of camp.
We had a chance to visit with a number of players and here’s what they had to say about the upcoming season.
QB Austin Simmons
“I’ve just been gradually building and really accepting my role and embracing everything that is going to come with it. Building chemistry with the entire offensive unit, getting to know them as people and not not just players. I flew some receivers down to Florida with me, and trained with them. It’s gonna be a great year.”
Austin Simmons
Simmons, a native of Miami, Florida, recently held his first ever football camp back home, and was excited to be able to give back to the youth.
“Giving back to my community, I just want to see those kids excel, and help them understand anything is possible within football. It was also huge to raise awareness for autism — my brother has autism — and raising awareness for my foundation,” he explained.
As this season approaches for the new QB1, nothing has changed mentally for him, as he’s prepared the same every year.
“It’s always been the same mentality, just go out there and progress every single day. Making sure I’m at the top of my craft, making sure I’m sticking to my schedule, even like making sure I wear the right color socks on the field, it comes down the small details.”
Austin Simmons
WR De’Zhaun Stribling
“I’ve been loving it here in Oxford, great food, great place, great people,” Stribling
Stribling, a former Oklahoma State and Washington State, was a four-star product out of the transfer portal, and strongly broke down every aspect he was looking for before committing to Ole Miss.
“A good offense that throws the ball down field, strong quarterback and a strong coaching foundation. I didn’t want to go somewhere that was unstable, and I found that here. I wanted to play at the highest level, SEC it’s the best conference and it will help propel my game.”`
DL Princewill Umanmielen
“You have to do extra, you can’t be average. You see everyone doing workouts, all over the country, so you have to take the extra mile, that’s what I learned from him.”
Princewill Umanmielen on what he learned from his brother, Princely
Princewill, the younger brother of former Ole Miss now Carolina Panthers player Princely Umanmielen, comes in after transferring from Nebraska. After finishing Second-Team Freshman All-American (2023), Umanmielen has his sights set on great things in 2025.
“I’m looking to dominate every snap of the ball this year, attack the quarterback, and be a game changer. Looking forward to playing Georgia State.”
RB Damien Taylor:
“So far my teammates have been great, especially the running back room with me being new. Everyone has brought me in, showing me new food places around town and things such as Hotworx. It’s been nothing but love over the last few months. Running backs coach (Kevin) Smith has pushed me, and just bringing everyone together, and within the room we all bring different things to the table.”
Taylor, a transfer from Troy University, accumulated 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns for the Trojans last season, and he has his sights set high for this upcoming season.
“Going into camp, my best goal is just being myself. I know my tools, and I know the way everything needs to be to get the job done. It’s not a moment of don’t come here and lose focus on what the main goal is. I know I have the tools now, I’m here to sharpen all my tools and add to my bag. What makes me special is I’m willing to dish out contact; we’re gonna meet face to face and someone has to drop first.”
OL Jayden Williams:
“Finding some consistency is my goal. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the field, coming off the injury, so just finding some consistency, especially with being in a new position, so I think that’s the biggest thing. I put the finishing touches on my knee this summer, fine tuning the technique and just getting comfortable”.
Williams, a native of Conway, Arkansas, was a member of the 2020-21 signing class. He only appeared in six games last season for the Rebels, starting at LT in each of the first four before being sidelined with injury.
“I’m speaking up a lot more this year, the room is very young this year, and with me being here the longest, I have to preach consistency. I tell the younger guys what personally helped me when I was younger or the little things I do, it’s my fifth year and I’m still learning things.”
LB/EDGE Suntarine Perkins
Suntarine Perkins lit up the stat sheet for the powerful Rebel defense as a sophomore in 2024. He helped contribute to team program records in sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120), which both led the nation, ranking fourth on the team with 60 tackles while tying for the team lead in both TFL (14.0) and sacks (10.5).
Those 10.5 sacks ranked tied for second in Ole Miss single-season history, and his 14.0 TFL ranked tied for 10th all-time. His most notable game last fall came against Oklahoma, where he notched 4.0 sacks – the most by a Rebel defender in a single game since 1993. In two years as a Rebel, Perkins owns 98 total tackles, 19.5 TFL and 14.0 sacks across 26 games played and 10 starts.
“I’ve been working on my pass rush moves this offseason, getting off the ball, creating angles that help me get to the quarterback. We had a lot of people come in this year, and the main thing is everyone just getting to know each other and creating a bond so that everyone can be a leader.”
Suntarine Perkins
Stay tuned for more fall camp coverage as our next media opportunity to see the team practice comes Friday. Hotty Toddy!
Daylan Flowers
Daylan is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas and currently a junior Journalism major at Ole Miss with an emphasis in sports media and a minor in history. In addition to his work for The Rebel Walk, Daylan is the creator of 'The Daylan Show,' a podcast that shares stories from people all over the sports and media world. He is an avid Arsenal, Cowboys, and St.Louis Cardinals fan. Daylan has a strong passion for photography, including many sporting events and photoshoots.
