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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Report 08.17: Rebels Push Through Heat
8/17/2011 | Football
Aug. 17, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - The Ole Miss football team took to the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium again on Wednesday under warm and sunny conditions, as the Rebels work towards the season opener versus BYU.
As the Rebels hit their 12th practice day of the fall, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said he was pleased with how his team how responded in their second-straight week of camp.
"We had another really good practice," said the Rebels fourth-year head man. "It was actually good back-to-back days. I was excited to see our players push through the exhaustion when it got a little hotter. Some of these younger players are really growing up, and our older guys like Kentrell Lockett and Joel Kight are providing really good leadership."
Nutt also said he was happy with his team's conditioning in the middle of the Mississippi summer.
"After the first week I knew our conditioning wasn't where it needed to be after taking five or six days off," Nutt said. "This has been a grind, but the players have pushed through it. We have run them every day and put them through extensive two-minute drills. I feel like we are starting to get into a lot better shape."
Senior defensive tackle Justin Smith has caught Nutt's eye with his production so far in camp and is currently holding onto the top spot in the Rebels' defensive tackle rotation.
"He is another senior that is playing really well for us," Nutt said. "He is providing really good leadership, has a good work ethic and is staying healthy. He is doing some really good things and I'm proud of him."
It was another back-in-forth day in the battle for the Rebels' starting quarterback position, something that didn't surprise the Ole Miss head coach.
"Barry Brunetti jumped back up today and Zack Stoudt threw the ball really well," said Nutt. "I was proud of those two guys. It's been a very competitive battle. It seems like every day one of them has a good day."
Nutt also noted that freshman cornerback Senquez Golson was "en route" to Oxford and Nutt expected him back at practice tomorrow.
Preseason drills continue for the Rebels Thursday and practices are closed to the public.
Meet the Rebels Day is set for this Saturday in the Indoor Practice Facility on campus. The event, which begins with lunch at noon, includes autograph opportunities with the football, soccer and volleyball teams, raffles for tickets and other prizes, shopping for official team gear and an open scrimmage in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
