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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Preseason Report 08.07: Freshmen Impress
8/6/2011 | Football
Aug. 6, 2011
OXFORD, Miss. - The long summer days of waiting for preseason camp to arrive are finally over, as Ole Miss conducted its first practice of the 2011 fall season on Saturday.
Fourth-year head coach Houston Nutt had a number of good things to say about his team's first practice that was moved into the Indoor Practice Facility during warm-ups because of lightning.
"We had a really good first day," Nutt said. "A lot of energy, passion and enthusiasm. The key is to keep it going each day and keep getting better. Thank goodness for this indoor facility. This really makes everything great when you have a place like this."
The Rebels practiced for about two-and-a-half hours in helmets and shorts. They will go in helmets and shorts again on Sunday before moving to shoulder pads on Monday and full pads next Wednesday.
For the first time, Ole Miss welcomed the members of its No. 19 nationally ranked recruiting class (Rivals.com) to the practice field, and Nutt gushed about the newcomers' practice debut.
"I love them more today than I did on signing day," said Nutt of his new collection of players that includes 10 prep All-Americans and a school-record four U.S. Army All-Americans. "We threw them right out there in the middle of it. We had spring with the ones that were here. Now it's time to find out in a hurry what the (new) ones can do, so we're not going to waste time. If they're athletic enough and can help us, we'll put them right out there."
Among the players who showed off their athleticism on Saturday were the freshman wide receivers, including Donte Moncrief, Nickolas Brassell and Collins Moore. Nutt talked about a particularly impressive play by Moncrief.
"I could have sworn the ball was going out of bounds, and I look up and he's catching it," Nutt said.
Another standout was junior transfer Jamal Mosley at tight end.
"Jamal Mosley makes a difference," Nutt said. "That's a big body, with great soft hands, and he's a good blocker. He looks good."
The quarterback race has now transitioned from spring drills to fall practice. Barry Brunetti, Randall Mackey and Zack Stoudt were all on the field taking snaps on Saturday.
"(The quarterbacks were) a little off early, but boy they came on toward the end," Nutt said. "I was really proud of how they handled two minute (drills) the very first day. They got us in and out of the huddle, only had one delay of game."
Preseason drills are open to the public on the practice fields and in the stadium through Saturday, Aug. 13. Practices will begin at 4:30 p.m. each day, while the time of the Aug. 13 workout will be announced at a later date.
