Game Preview: Ole Miss vs. Memphis

By Chris Purser

Media Relations Student Assistant

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels kick off the 2007 season this Saturday when they take a short drive north to face the Memphis Tigers. Game time is set for 2:30 p.m.  and will be telecast regionally by CSS.

“We’re excited to start the season,” said Head Coach Ed Orgeron. “We’re going to crank it up during game week and have an extra practice. Saturday we had a mock scrimmage. It was a good mock scrimmage. Obviously we had a few more mistakes than I’d like, so we have to simplify what we’re doing for the game plan against Memphis.”

Ole Miss enters the 2007 season with a new signal-caller under center for the third straight season. Senior Seth Adams earned the starting nod in preseason camp and will begin the season as the Rebels' starting quarterback. The Holly Springs, Miss., native saw action last season as a back-up to Brent Schaeffer. Adams completed 17-of-31 passes for 177 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.

Senior BenJarvus Green-Ellis returns to anchor a running back corps that produced 1,504 yards rushing. The New Orleans, La., native rushed for 1,000 yards last season, becoming only the third player in school history to accomplish that feat.

With a solid backfield returning, the Rebels are hoping for a productive season out of the team’s wide receivers. Sophomore Dexter McCluster returns after sitting out the final six games of last season with an injury. McCluster is an all-purpose threat who gained 232 yards receiving, 274 yards on kickoff returns, and 68 yards rushing through six games.  Junior Mike Wallace returns as the team’s leading receiver, while seniors Robert Lane and Robert Hough anchor down the tight end spot.

Defensively, Ole Miss enters this season having to replace several playmakers at some key positions. Returning starters Peria Jerry, Marcus Tillman, and Greg Hardy are back on the defensive front. However, the Rebels must replace all three starting linebackers from last season, as both Patrick Willis and Rory Johnson have moved on to the NFL. Sophomore Jonathan Cornell looks to replace Willis at the “Mike” linebacker spot, while sophomore Jamie Phillips, junior Ashlee Palmer, and junior Tony Fein look to man the outside posts. Freshman Chris Strong also has his name in the mix at both the “Mike” linebacker and on the defensive front.

Junior Jamarca Sanford, who started the final four games of last season at the “Sam” linebacker position, returns to his original position at strong safety, while sophomore Kendrick Lewis anchors the free safety spot. Juniors Dustin Mouzon and Terrell Jackson enter the season as the projected starters at the cornerback slots.

Sophomore kicker Joshua Shene enters the 2007 season on a high note, having connected on 14-of-17 field goals from last season, including a season-long 52-yarder in the Rebels 27-7 win over Northwestern State. McCluster and Marshay Green return as the leading kickoff and punt returners from last season as well.

Memphis is coached by Tommy West, who is in his seventh year with the Tigers. West has a 34-38 record with the Tigers, with a 2-3 record against the Rebels. Memphis returns 14 starters from last season, with seven on offense and seven on defense.

Offensively, the Tigers are led by QB Martin Hankins, RB Joseph Doss and 2006 Conference USA All-Freshman Duke Calhoun at WR.

Saturday’s game marks the first time that the Rebels will be featured live on CSS. It will mark the 57th time the two teams have faced each other in what has become a Mid-South rivalry, and it will be the 34thtime that the Rebels have started the season versus the Tigers. Ole Miss holds a 44-10-2 mark over the Tigers, including a 23-7-2 record in games played in Memphis. In season openers, the Rebels are 29-3-2 versus Memphis.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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