Ole Miss Football: Day 11 Practice Report

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team began its second full week of fall practice Monday. Additionally, the Rebels concluded last week with a Saturday scrimmage at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

After the team's 11th practice of fall camp, head coach Matt Luke, running back Scottie Phillips, linebacker Zikerrion Baker and defensive tackle Austrian Robinson met with the media to discuss the scrimmage and their position battles as the start of the 2018 season nears.

Freshmen Shine in Saturday Scrimmage
The Rebels held their first fall scrimmage this past Saturday before Meet The Rebels. Luke looked back at his team's and performance lauded the offense's output.

"I thought the offense, for the first half of the scrimmage, executed very well. That was good to see," Luke said. "I thought, defensively, we had some opportunities to get off the field on third down, so that was a point of emphasis today. If you have a chance to get off the field, let's do it. But I do think the offense was clicking early."

Luke also tipped his cap to four freshmen who showed out Saturday, naming receiver Elijah Moore, running back Tylan Knight, linebacker Kevontae' Ruggs and defensive back Keidron Smith as the players who stood out to him the most.

"Elijah Moore showed up. He was probably the talk afterward among all the fans. He made several plays in space," Luke said. "Tylan Knight had a big run. Kevontae' Ruggs showed some things. Keidron Smith is playing really well with the twos right now. So those four freshmen stepping up have been really impressive."

Young Linebackers Finding Roles
Ruggs has been one of the most-talked-about players on this Rebel defense in fall camp. The 6-foot-4 freshman has looked the part, and Luke sees him as a key contributor come September.

"Coming out of the scrimmage, K'Vontae Ruggs probably performed the best of any linebacker," Luke said. "He can run around. He can hit. He performed really well. He made some mistakes in there, as to be expected, but he runs around and hits. He's a guy you'll see play, for sure on special teams, and obviously have a role on defense."

Additionally, redshirt freshman Zikerrion Baker has used his physical tools to find a spot on the field. Luke praised Baker's physicality at the linebacker position, and Baker echoed that when asked about earning playing time with the starting group at linebacker.

"A big part of it I believe is effort. I feel like effort separates you from everyone else," Baker said. "Every day is a fight. You scratch and claw. Everyone wants to be the No. 1 linebacker."

Phillips Flashes Big-Play Ability in Scrimmage
Ole Miss sent a home-run-hitter at running back to the NFL in Jordan Wilkins, but the Rebels might have found another in Scottie Phillips. Phillips made yet another bid for the starting running back role when he busted a big run in Saturday's scrimmage.

"Scottie hit a big one on Saturday in the scrimmage," Luke said. "There's a really good competition growing there at running back. They're making each other better. Really like the competition and the physicality they're running with."

The soft-spoken Phillips tipped his hat to his offensive line when asked about the big run.

"It felt good," Phillips said. "The O-Line did a great job of paving the way for me. I had the easy job of just finding the hole and bursting through it."

To purchase tickets for the 2018 season, visit OleMissTix.com or call 888-REB-TKTS. Follow Ole Miss Football on Twitter (@OleMissFB), Facebook and Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

Zikerrion Baker

Scottie Phillips

Austrian Robinson

Jordan Wilkins

The University of Mississippi Athletics