Jamarious Brown Embraces Leadership Role as Ole Miss Reloads Defensive Front

OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss defensive lineman Jamarious Brown speaks with a quiet confidence and a clear message: the Rebels may be flying under the radar, but they’re not backing down.

In the wake of significant roster turnover, Brown acknowledges the challenges facing the defensive unit but emphasizes the team’s relentless work ethic and unity.

Jamarious Brown

Mentoring the Next Generation

With a number of veteran players departing for the NFL, such as JJ Pegues, Jared Ivey, Princely Umanmielen and Walter Nolen, Brown finds himself in a pivotal leadership role.

Now entering his third season in Oxford, the Moss Point, Mississippi native is not only anchoring the defensive line but also mentoring the younger players who will be counted on to contribute early. “Everything we know we’re just pouring into our younger guys and we just try to show them the ropes in the right way,” Brown explained.

That buy-in has been a recurring theme throughout fall camp, as head coach Lane Kiffin and his staff work to retool a defense that lost so many key players on the line. Brown’s emergence as a vocal leader and example-setter has not gone unnoticed, especially as he continues to evolve both physically and mentally. “Everybody’s buying into the program and I’m excited to see what comes,” he added.

Preparing for the coming season and the next level 

Brown also spoke about his personal growth and the advice he’s received from former Rebels and NFL players.

“As I get older I just watch the older guys, the guys previously here and the guys in the league, and I ask them ‘what’s the biggest thing from the transition to the league?’ Brown shared. “They’re basically just telling me like take care of your body and stuff like that.”

That attention to detail and preparation has become a cornerstone of Brown’s approach, as he eyes a breakout season and potentially a future at the next level. But for now, his focus remains squarely on helping Ole Miss defy expectations and build a cohesive, resilient defense.

With the season opener just weeks away, Brown’s words reflect a team determined to prove itself. Underdogs or not, the Rebels are ready to fight—and Jamarious Brown is leading the charge.