OXFORD, Miss. – Breeland Speaks emerged as a fan favorite last season.

He just didn't know it.

The Ole Miss defensive tackle thought he toiled in anonymity, essentially hoping he played well enough not to be noticed.

On July 23, Ole Miss hosted its annual Ladies Forum at the Manning Center. Speaks was one of the most popular players there, and he was a bit shocked.

“I was surprised at the Ladies Forum when women came up to say, ‘Breeland, I love the way you play,’ and I was like, ‘I didn’t know people noticed that,’” Speaks said. “I was just out there playing my game trying to make sure people didn’t notice a difference when Robert came out. Sometimes my jersey was scrunched up so bad people thought it was a 5.”

Speaks laughed and smiled broadly while telling the story. Robert is, of course, former Ole Miss star Robert Nkemdiche, who was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the NFL draft in April.