When Ole Miss takes on MTSU this weekend, expect the run game to be emphasized.
Ole Miss defeated Furman 76-0 last week to kick off the 2024 season, and Jaxson Dart’s early Heisman Trophy chances improved after accounting for 445 yards and six touchdowns in the game, 418 of which came through the air.
However, the run game did not get established until the backups arrived for mop-up duty. By the end of the first half, Ole Miss had 502 yards of offense, with only 84 on the ground. Dart and defensive tackle J.J. Pegues scored rushing scores before leading backs Ulysses Bentley and Henry Parrish. When all was said and done, reserve running backs Matt Jones and Dominique Thomas led the Rebels in rushing with 121 yards on nine attempts.
On Wednesday, head coach Lane Kiffin hinted that the ground game could be used more after being largely overlooked last weekend. Ole Miss will host MTSU this weekend at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
“We definitely want to establish a run in this game. We were really pass-oriented as the game progressed (Saturday), and we’d like to establish the run in this one,” Kiffin stated.
If that’s the case, they’ll have to deal with more offensive line injuries ahead of him. Interior linemen Gerquan Scott and Caleb Warren did not play last weekend due to preseason ailments, and their availability for this MTSU game is uncertain. On Tuesday, Inside the Rebels reported that Jeremy James, who started at guard this past weekend, had a hand injury and is expected to be unavailable on Saturday.
Last week, Reece McIntyre filled in at center before Brycen Sanders entered the game. Julius Buelow also went in and out of guard. On Wednesday, Kiffin did not address any of the recent offensive line ailments.
“The linemen and front seven are growing bigger as we go. From week one to week two, we are playing. It’s more of a challenge for them this week (and in the coming weeks),” Kiffin explained.
MTSU enters this weekend’s game 1-0 after edging FCS Tennessee Tech at home following a significant rain delay. They are led by Derek Mason, a former Vanderbilt head coach.
“We’re having a terrible week in practice. We didn’t have many high-play counts in last week’s game. We’ve been preparing really hard and are prepared for a really good team like Middle Tennessee coming in,” Kiffin said. “(Kiffin) has played them previously, and they always play very hard. We’ve got our hands full. Hopefully, we will have a large crowd. After the game, our players stated, “Hopefully, the entire game will be like our student section, full, excited, and providing a home field advantage.”
Kickoff for this Saturday’s game versus MTSU is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. CT and may be seen on SEC Network or heard on Ole Miss Radio Network.
