.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ben Brown Looking to Contribute to Veteran Offensive Line
8/7/2018 | Football
Watch Coach Luke InterviewWatch Ryder Anderson InterviewWatch Ben Brown InterviewWatch Braylon Sanders Interview
Redshirt Freshman Runs with First Unit at Fall Camp
OXFORD, Miss. – Ben Brown lines up alongside a potential first-round NFL Draft pick and preseason Rimington Trophy watch-lister, but amid five other returnees with significant starting experience, the redshirt freshman could add yet another dimension to the Ole Miss offensive line.
The Rebels held their first fall practice in full pads on Tuesday and Brown worked with the starting unit at right guard. It hasn't taken long for the 6-foot-5, 300-pound blocker out of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to impress his coaches.
"Ben Brown has had a really good camp," said head coach Matt Luke. "He's a big, strong, physical guy. He's smart. He's a good athlete. He plays hard. When you say offensive lineman, that's what he looks like. He's working with the ones at right guard right now. Jordan Sims is working some one at right guard and is also getting some two at center. But Ben gives us that flexibility. He's having a really good camp."
His first impression came in the spring. When Sims filled in for Rimington watch-lister Sean Rawlings at center, Brown filled in at right guard with some assistance from the senior Sims.
"During the spring, when I had an opportunity when Sean was down and Jordan had to take over at center, I had to go with the ones at right guard," Brown said. "Jordan was helping me out a lot, telling me what to do, helping me out with tough calls and tough situations. That's really helped me progress a lot. I'm really thankful for that."
After having a taste of action with the ones, Brown went to work, following the lead of guys like Sims, Rawlings, Javon Patterson, Greg Little and Alex Givens.
"We did the workouts, the runs, the lifts every day, then the whole O-Line, we try to get extra work in," Brown said. "After weights, we try to get some heavy bag work in, some pass sets, just trying to get some chemistry with the group."
With that chemistry, and some added depth thanks to Brown, the Ole Miss offensive line unit figures to be one of the best in the country.
It provided protection for the No. 11 passing offense in college football, and its run-blocking prowess seemed to improve with each game in 2017. The Rebel ground game cracked 100 yards in six of its last seven games, including three times over the 200-yard threshold. Brown hopes to help the Rebels run it even better in 2018.
"I love the run game," Brown said. "That's all I really did in high school. We just ran the ball all the time, so that's what I'm used to. The O-Line is looking really good right now. The whole offense is lights-out right now, so we're really excited."
With Brown and the offensive line ready to roll, the running back group is looking strong as well as it looks to replace its first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010 in Jordan Wilkins. While Wilkins is in competition for the starting job with the Indianapolis Colts, a committee of backs is looking to replace him.
Junior college transfer Scottie Phillips has led the way, being pushed by Eric Swinney, Isaiah Woullard and Armani Linton. The Rebels' No. 2 rusher from a season ago, D'Vaughn Pennamon, will join the fray as well once he's healthy. Regardless of how the carries fall, Brown is confident the ground game will remain in good hands.
"The whole flow from Jordan (Wilkins) on over has been great," Brown said. "He was a great leader for the running backs. He set a great standard, and it has carried over well for the whole offense. We haven't felt any different. We're just making lanes for the running backs, they're doing their job, and we're all happy."
With the Rebels' loaded passing attack likely to be the focal point for opposing defenses, ground game could find itself with plenty of open space in 2018.
"We've been getting after it running the ball, especially when we run tempo plays," Brown said. "We have a different mindset when we do that. We're just going to destroy the other guy on the line of scrimmage and clear some lanes for the running back. I love our offense. Coach Longo has it going on. We're just ready to get after it."
The Rebels held their first fall practice in full pads on Tuesday and Brown worked with the starting unit at right guard. It hasn't taken long for the 6-foot-5, 300-pound blocker out of Vicksburg, Mississippi, to impress his coaches.
"Ben Brown has had a really good camp," said head coach Matt Luke. "He's a big, strong, physical guy. He's smart. He's a good athlete. He plays hard. When you say offensive lineman, that's what he looks like. He's working with the ones at right guard right now. Jordan Sims is working some one at right guard and is also getting some two at center. But Ben gives us that flexibility. He's having a really good camp."
His first impression came in the spring. When Sims filled in for Rimington watch-lister Sean Rawlings at center, Brown filled in at right guard with some assistance from the senior Sims.
"During the spring, when I had an opportunity when Sean was down and Jordan had to take over at center, I had to go with the ones at right guard," Brown said. "Jordan was helping me out a lot, telling me what to do, helping me out with tough calls and tough situations. That's really helped me progress a lot. I'm really thankful for that."
After having a taste of action with the ones, Brown went to work, following the lead of guys like Sims, Rawlings, Javon Patterson, Greg Little and Alex Givens.
"We did the workouts, the runs, the lifts every day, then the whole O-Line, we try to get extra work in," Brown said. "After weights, we try to get some heavy bag work in, some pass sets, just trying to get some chemistry with the group."
With that chemistry, and some added depth thanks to Brown, the Ole Miss offensive line unit figures to be one of the best in the country.
It provided protection for the No. 11 passing offense in college football, and its run-blocking prowess seemed to improve with each game in 2017. The Rebel ground game cracked 100 yards in six of its last seven games, including three times over the 200-yard threshold. Brown hopes to help the Rebels run it even better in 2018.
"I love the run game," Brown said. "That's all I really did in high school. We just ran the ball all the time, so that's what I'm used to. The O-Line is looking really good right now. The whole offense is lights-out right now, so we're really excited."
With Brown and the offensive line ready to roll, the running back group is looking strong as well as it looks to replace its first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010 in Jordan Wilkins. While Wilkins is in competition for the starting job with the Indianapolis Colts, a committee of backs is looking to replace him.
Junior college transfer Scottie Phillips has led the way, being pushed by Eric Swinney, Isaiah Woullard and Armani Linton. The Rebels' No. 2 rusher from a season ago, D'Vaughn Pennamon, will join the fray as well once he's healthy. Regardless of how the carries fall, Brown is confident the ground game will remain in good hands.
"The whole flow from Jordan (Wilkins) on over has been great," Brown said. "He was a great leader for the running backs. He set a great standard, and it has carried over well for the whole offense. We haven't felt any different. We're just making lanes for the running backs, they're doing their job, and we're all happy."
With the Rebels' loaded passing attack likely to be the focal point for opposing defenses, ground game could find itself with plenty of open space in 2018.
"We've been getting after it running the ball, especially when we run tempo plays," Brown said. "We have a different mindset when we do that. We're just going to destroy the other guy on the line of scrimmage and clear some lanes for the running back. I love our offense. Coach Longo has it going on. We're just ready to get after it."
Players Mentioned
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballPRESSER | Caleb Odom (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Izaiah Hartrup (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Antonio Kite (04-16-26)
Thursday, April 16
PRESSER | Pete Golding (04-14-26)
Tuesday, April 14