New Program, Same Goal: How Harrison Wallace’s Experience Can Propel Ole Miss through Playoffs
OXFORD, Miss.– Ole Miss football is just a few days out from the first playoff game in school history, as the Rebels host Tulane on Saturday, September 20th in Vaught-Hemingway.
Fans and players, alike, are excited for the first-time opportunity, and Ole Miss has a rare find on this team in the form of first-year, Penn State transfer Harrison “Trey” Wallace III who participated in the playoffs last season for the Nittany Lions.
Wallace hit the transfer portal from State College to Oxford last January following a playoff run that was just three points shy of a national championship appearance.
However, even with his team’s success, Wallace looked for a new opportunity for himself, and now finds himself in Oxford with a bit of deja-vu.
Just like last season’s team, Wallace’s squad this year is also slotted at No. 6 entering the playoffs, also marking his team’s first-ever home playoff game.
Wallace spoke to the media this week prior to the Rebels matchup against Tulane, and he discussed how he has used his prior experience to help prepare his current Ole Miss teammates.
“Really just being that vocal person, just from me having that past experience to just keeping their minds at a 1-0 mentality. [Telling them] just to not look ahead at any other game, just because that next game is the most most important game because at the end of the day, if you lose that one it’s over. So, really just keeping them in the space that they should be.”
Trey Wallace III
Wallace’s teammates are taking his advice to heart, with many of them speaking highly of his leadership role.
Fellow wide receiver De’Zhaun Stribling relayed what it is like to have Wallace in the room throughout the preparation process.
“Very helpful. You know, it kind of just tells us a lot–how long this whole process is. You know, how we have to keep staying mentally engaged, focused on the small details because later on in the season, you play better teams, you know what I mean? So you can’t really make any small mistakes and stuff like like that.“
De’Zhaun Stribling on Trey Wallace’s experience
Wallace’s and Stribling’s quarterback, Trinidad Chambliss, who has his own history of winning, discussed Wallace’s impact on the team at this critical point in the season.
“Trey has experience in the playoffs. It’s great to have a vet at receiver. I can trust him whenever I throw him the ball, and I can trust him whenever he can get open.”Â
Trinidad Chambliss on Trey Wallace
New Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding was asked about Wallace’s experience and how it can benefit the Rebels.
“Obviously, I think you’re product of your experiences. We’ve got to prepare a little harder. We’ve got to practice a little harder and make sure we’re editing our behavior to get the result that we want. So when you’ve had guys in that and then not have the success doing it like they did, obviously, when he (Wallace) was at Penn State, you know, he kind of looks back and can educate that group a little bit [and say] ‘I wish I would have done this, you know. We did it this way, and it didn’t work.’ So, having guys with experience, having gone through the playoff system, I think is really important.“
Head coach Pete GoldingÂ
With every little detail becoming critical at this juncture in the season and potentially the difference between winning and losing, the wisdom via experience that Wallace possesses from last year’s run in Happy Valley could help propel Ole Miss the extra step to the National Championship.
A Look Ahead
Ole Miss begins its first-ever playoff run as the Rebels host the Tulane Green Wave for the second time this season. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast on TNT/TrueTV.
Billy Kuhl
Billy Kuhl joins The Rebel Walk as a sophomore at Ole Miss majoring in Journalism with a Sports Media concentration. He is from Jefferson Township, New Jersey and graduated from Jefferson Township High School where he played varsity baseball, and soccer, and swam competitively in his summers. You can contact him at wpkuhl88@gmail.com or DM him on X @Billykuhll or instagram @Billykuhll_
