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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Report 08.10: Rebels Withstand Heat
8/10/2010 | Football
Aug. 10, 2010
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss football team returned outside and battled the heat and humidity in its third practice of the preseason Tuesday evening.
The heat index has been topping 110 degrees during this first week of fall camp, but the Rebels have handled the brutal conditions in stride, thanks in large part to the productive offseason training done by Don Decker and the Rebel strength and conditioning staff.
"With the way the weather is, you have to have a good summer program, and our guys are in good shape," said Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt. "You don't see much cramping going on, you don't see guys running off to the training room. That's been very positive."
Nutt's squad got off to an energetic start on Tuesday but struggled to maintain that intensity during the latter periods, particularly on the offensive line. He said Bradley Sowell sets the pace, but the younger linemen need to make progress.
"On the offensive line, Bradley Sowell is the only one that has really played a lot," Nutt said. "He is ahead of the game. The others guys haven't played, but they need to grow up in a hurry. Bobby Massie has played, but we have to get much better."
One lineman that Nutt has seen maturity from is Rishaw Johnson. Labeled by Nutt as "one of the strongest guys on the team," the junior from Hammond, La., finished the spring as the starting right guard.
"He has grown up," said Nutt. "I think he has really turned. He is actually trying to be a leader for us. It's amazing what a year does. This football team means a lot to him, and you can tell by the way he is working and trying to learn, get in the playbook and help the young people. It's been really encouraging."
Another player that is building on a strong spring effort is JUCO transfer Wayne Dorsey. The junior defensive end was the No. 1 junior college recruit in the nation last year at Mississippi Gulf Coast.
"He is physical," Nutt said. "He is an attacking end. Last spring, he was kind of shy and didn't know what was hitting him. Now he is taking on the power, the counter, run plays, and it doesn't even phase him. We always knew he could rush the passer, and now he is getting better."
For the third straight day, Nutt praised the hard work of his incoming freshmen.
"I love our young people," he said. "They don't know what's going on, but they're attacking it full speed and embracing practice. Carlton Martin, Carlos Thompson, Clarence Jackson, Jeff Scott, I'm really proud of them."
Ole Miss resumes preseason drills Wednesday and competes in full pads for the first time on Thursday. Practices this week are open to the public, and time is set at 5:20 p.m. CT each weekday. Saturday's scrimmage is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
