Ole Miss’ Diego Pounds Embraces Leadership Role on Rebels’ Offensive Line: ‘We’re a tight-knit group’
OXFORD, Miss. — Ole Miss offensive tackle Diego Pounds is feeling the momentum. After a gritty 3-0 start to the season including a recent thrilling win over Arkansas, the Rebels are riding high—and Pounds believes the offensive line is finally finding its groove.
“It’s been good every week,” Pounds said during Tuesday’s press conference. “We get to focus on different opponents, see different defenses, and try new techniques. It’s been pretty fun.”
Pounds, a transfer for the 2024 season from North Carolina, started at left tackle against Arkansas and played all 74 snaps for the Rebels last Saturday.
The Rebels’ offensive line, which had battled injuries and lineup shuffles during fall camp, delivered its most cohesive performance yet in Saturday’s win over the Razorbacks. Pounds credited the return of key players like Delano Townsend for helping the unit gel.
“Getting Delano back just adds more fire to it,” he said. “You get more juice around it because more guys are playing. You get to see how you gel with different guys.”
That chemistry was evident as the offensive line’s protection of Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss exceeded many fans’ expectations throughout the game. Pounds praised Chambliss’ poise and leadership, noting the smooth transition from starter Austin Simmons to the backup.
“Trinidad came in and did what he was supposed to do,” Pounds said. “He had a great game and ran the offense very well. I’m proud of him.”
Pounds was asked about the possible differences between the two talented QBs and in their protections.
“I feel like they’re both great quarterbacks, both of them, and I feel like they both are special at different things. So I feel like I gelled with both of them. They both do a great job when they’re back there, but our job is just to protect whosever back there.“
Diego Pounds on Simmons and Chambliss
Now an experienced presence on the line, Pounds is embracing his role as a mentor to younger and newer teammates, who have shown steady progress through the first three games.
“Last year I was one of the younger guys, learning from the older ones. This year I’m trying to teach everything I learned and bring the younger guys along.”
Diego Pounds
With Tulane upcoming—one of the nation’s better group of 5 squads—and a massive Magnolia Bowl showdown immediately following, the Rebels have no time for parades. But if the offensive line continues to build on its recent success, the Rebels could be poised to extend their perfect start and make their first-ever appearance in the college football playoff.
“We’re a tight-knit group. If one guy fails, we all do. We’ve got to have five people on the same page.”
Diego Pounds
That unity will be crucial as Ole Miss prepares for a gauntlet ahead, one that begins with a Tulane team that is not to be taken for granted, and who will also be rolling into Oxford at 3-0.
Next Up
The Rebels will square off against the Green Wave this Saturday, September 20, at 2:30
Jacob Quaglino
Jacob is a New Orleans, LA native and Ole Miss alumni, Class of 2024 and staff writer with The Rebel Walk. He has been a diehard fan of all Ole Miss sports his entire life, with his earliest Ole Miss sports memory being the Rebels' iconic 2008 upset of then-No. 4 Florida. Among his other favorite Rebel sports memories are storming the field after beating LSU in 2023 and Georgia in 2024, watching the Rebels upset Alabama in back to back years in 2014-15, seeing the women's golf team win the school's first-ever NCAA-recognized national championship in 2021, and watching the Rebel baseball team win the College World Series in 2022. He remains exceedingly hopeful that the Ole Miss Athletics Department's national championship trophy collection will grow in the coming years. Outside of The Rebel Walk, Jacob also works for a local radio news station and has many interests and hobbies, including reading, writing, watching college sports, playing pickleball, and traveling.
