OXFORD — Jordan Watkins knows Arkansas’ defense has been porous at times this season.
However, he noticed the Razorbacks held LSU to just 13 points in a 13-10 loss to the Tigers this past Saturday. After having faced LSU just a few weeks ago, that performance caught the Ole Miss wide receiver’s eyes.
“I think they’ve been playing really well on defense,” Watkins said. “They have a couple of different defensive schemes they run. They do a good job of keeping everything in front of them. …It’ll be a challenge for us.”
The challenge won’t stop Saturday night in Fayetteville, Ark. After the Rebels finish with Arkansas (6:30 p.m., SEC Network), they’ll have two-plus fewer days to get ready for Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night.
“It’s a really quick turnaround,” Watkins said. “We have to take care of our bodies. It’s not going to be a walk in the park.”
REBELS PREP FOR JEFFERSON
The last time Ole Miss saw KJ Jefferson, the Rebels were defending him on a 2-point conversion attempt with no time left on the clock.
Ole Miss stopped Jefferson and the Hogs on that play, preserving a 52-51 win.
Jefferson didn’t play last weekend against LSU but all signs point towards him playing Saturday against Ole Miss.
“He’s a really good quarterback, a physical quarterback,” Ole Miss defensive lineman Tavius Robinson said. “He can run. He can pass. We have to contain him, for sure.”
Robinson said last year’s win in Oxford over the Razorbacks “was a crazy atmosphere for sure. We ended it on defense. A win like that is always exciting.”
OFFENSIVE LINE NAMED SEMIFINALIST FOR JOE MOORE AWARD
Ole Miss was named one of nine semifinalists for the Joe Moore Award on Tuesday, an honor presented annually to the most outstanding offensive line unit in the country.
The Rebels join Air Force, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, UCLA and USC on the list of semifinalists. The elite group has a combined record of 76-14 and represent four FBS conferences.
The Ole Miss O-line blocks for one of the nation's most prolific offenses that currently leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 in the FBS with 259.8 rushing yards per game. The Rebels also rank in the top 10 nationally in total rushing yards (No. 3, 2,598), rushing touchdowns (No. 7, 29) and total rushing attempts (No. 5, 479).
Ole Miss ranks second in the SEC and No. 23 in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed, yielding just 1.00 per contest. Ole Miss is just one of five schools with three players over 500 yards rushing for the season. The Rebel offensive line pushed Ole Miss to 448 rushing yards against Auburn on Oct. 15, the most by a Rebel rushing attack since 1962 and the fifth-most in school history (second-best against an SEC opponent). It also ranks as the seventh-best team performance in FBS for 2022 and the best against a Power-5 opponent.
Ole Miss has used three different starting lineups among six different starting offensive linemen, including two redshirt freshmen. In total, the core six linemen that have started in 2022 have combined for 119 career starts and 153 career games played. The Joe Moore Award finalists will be named on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
The eventual winner will be recognized in the ensuing weeks during a surprise, on campus visit to the winning unit's school (TBD as per the winning school's schedule).
2022 JOE MOORE AWARD SEMIFINALISTS Air Force Georgia Illinois Michigan Ole Miss Oregon Tennessee UCLA USC
BLACKWELL NOMINATED FOR BROYLES AWARD
Ole Miss football assistant coach Marquel Blackwell has been nominated for the Broyles Award, the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation announced on Tuesday. The annual award honors college football's top assistant coach.
The 51 nominees in this year's class were selected from approximately 1,500 assistant coaches representing 131 FBS programs across the country. The Broyles Award selection process includes the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), broadcasters, a college football hall-of-fame selection committee, and current college head coaches.
Blackwell, in his first season at Ole Miss, mentors one of the most dynamic running back groups in the country. Ole Miss leads the SEC and ranks No. 3 in FBS, averaging nearly 260 rushing yards per game. The Rebels feature two running backs averaging more than 75 yards per game, including true freshman Quinshon Judkins, who ranks No. 9 nationally with 1,171 yards rushing on the season.
Ole Miss ranks top 5 in the country in total rushing yards (2,598), rushing attempts (479) and rushing TDs (29). The Rebels are tied for seventh among FBS schools in rushing touchdowns with 29. Ole Miss is one of only five schools in the FBS with three players over 500 yards rushing (Ole Miss, Florida, Oregon, UCF, Georgia State).
Under Blackwell's tutelage, Judkins is having one of the greatest seasons ever by a freshman running back in SEC history. His 15 rushing touchdowns are the most ever by any Rebel in a single season, despite classification. He needs just 142 rushing yards to set the Ole Miss single-season rushing record. Judkins ranks 11th all-time among conference freshmen with 1,171 rushing yards -- seventh among true freshmen.
It's the most rushing yards by a freshman since Nick Chubb's 2014 season at Georgia (1,547 yards). A 43-member selection committee of distinguished former head coaches, broadcasters and a committee representing the FWAA will select 15 semi-finalists, five finalists from the list of nominees, and an overall winner.
2022 BROYLES AWARD NOMINEES
Alabama – Pete Golding, Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
Arizona – Jimmie Dougherty, Passing Game/Quarterbacks
Arkansas – Jimmy Smith, Running Backs
Ball State – Tyler Stockton, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
Baylor – Jeff Grimes, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Boise State – Spencer Danielson, Defensive Coordinator/Inside Linebackers
Brigham Young University – Fesi Sitake, Passing Game/Wide Receivers
Cincinnati – Mike Brown, Wide Receivers/Passing Game
Coastal Carolina – Skylor Magee, Defensive Line
Duke – Kevin Johns, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
East Carolina – Chris Foster, Running Backs
Florida – Rob Sale, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Florida State – Alex Atkins, Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line
Georgia – Todd Monken, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Georgia Southern – Bryan Ellis, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Illinois – Ryan Walters, Defensive Coordinator
Iowa – Phil Parker, Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Back
Iowa State – Jon Heacock, Defensive Coordinator
Kansas – Andy Kotelnicki, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Kansas State – Joe Klanderman, Defensive Coordinator
Louisville – Bryan Brown, Defensive Coordinator
Louisiana State University – Matt House, Defensive Coordinator
Michigan – Jesse Minter, Defensive Coordinator
Minnesota – Joe Rossi, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
NC State – Tony Gibson, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
North Carolina – Phil Longo, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
North Texas – Mike Bloesch, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Notre Dame – Brian Mason, Special Teams
Ohio – Scott Isphording, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Ohio State – Jim Knowles, Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers
Ole Miss - Marquel Blackwell, Running Backs
Oregon – Kenny Dillingham, Offensive Coordinator
Oregon State – Trent Bray, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Penn State – Manny Diaz, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Rutgers – Joe Harasymiak, Defensive Coordinator
Southern Methodist University – Casey Woods, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
South Carolina – Pete Lembo, Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams
Syracuse – Tony White, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Texas Christian University – Garrett Riley, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Tennessee – Alex Golesh, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Texas State – Zac Spavital, Defensive Coordinator
Toledo – Vince Kehres, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
Troy – Shiel Wood, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
University of Alabama at Birmingham – Blake Shrader, Defensive Backs
University of Central Florida – Travis Williams, Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
University of California, Los Angeles – Deshaun Foster, Running Backs
University of Southern California – Shaun Nua, Defensive Line
Utah – Morgan Scalley, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties
Wake Forest – Kevin Higgins, Wide Receivers
Washington – Ryan Grubb, Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
Western Kentucky – Tyson Summers, Defensive Coordinator
