Practice Report: Offensive Updates

OXFORD, Miss. – The preseason grind continued for Ole Miss football Wednesday, and with each practice out in the blazing Mississippi sun, a little more light is shed on what the Rebels might look like when they line up on August 31.

Offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, wide receiver Elijah Moore, quarterback Grant Tisdale and running back/tight end D'Vaughn Pennamon met with the media Wednesday to provide the latest insights on the offensive side of the ball in Oxford.

QB2 BATTLE
Many offensive units around the nation are hammering out who will take the QB1 spot and lead the charge. Ole Miss knows who that guy is as Matt Corral returns after appearing in four games behind Jordan Ta'amu a year ago. The question for Rich Rodriguez and the Rebels: Who's on second?

"Kinkead Dent got banged up a little bit, so it's really John Rhys Plumlee and Grant Tisdale battling for that No. 2 spot," Rodriguez said. "Grant was here in the spring, so he's probably ahead mentally, but John Rhys is a really good athlete and he's a really, really smart guy. Those two and Matt are kind of splitting the rotation of reps. Matt's mostly going with the ones, of course. It's a good group to coach. I sometimes forget that they're all freshmen and this is all new to them. They've been great to work with."

Both Tisdale and Plumlee continue to battle and improve in the offensive backfield, knowing that they could be thrust into that QB1 role at any time.

"Just trying to help the team win any way I can, just be ready, because I'm always one snap away," Tisdale said. "I feel like I'm more comfortable in the offense now. During the spring, I was running around like a lost puppy, just trying to get my feet under me. But now I'm feeling more confident and I know what I'm doing."

MOORE LEADERSHIP
Despite sending three wide receivers off to the professional ranks, Jacob Peeler hasn't had a lack of leadership in his position room. After a strong showing as a freshman, Elijah Moore has risen to the top and assumed a lead role among the next generation of Nasty Wide Outs.

"He's a really good player with a great attitude," Rodriguez said of Moore. "We don't have a lot of veterans. It's hard to say that he's a veteran, but at the same time, he's played a little bit and he's one of the leaders of that group. He should have a big year for us."

Moore began last season as a rotational player behind the big three of A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf and DaMarkus Lodge. When Metcalf's season ended early due to injury, it was Moore who stepped up in a big way, finishing his rookie campaign with 398 receiving yards and two touchdowns on 36 receptions. This year, the Rebels will be looking for more similar outputs from their young receivers.

"When D.K. went out, I felt like I had to step up," Moore said. "It's the same this year. If someone steps out, a young guy has to step up. It shouldn't be difficult. You have to be ready. That's why you got recruited here. You've got to know defenses. It isn't just about being athletic. It's about being smart. You have to be that type of player."

Several freshmen are flashing that ability early on in fall camp. There is no shortage of strength or speed within the new crop of NWOs, but when it comes to putting it all together, Jonathan Mingo has been the early standout.

"We knew the physical part was there when we recruited him," Rodriguez said of Mingo. "He's a big, strong, fast guy. But he's picked things up really well mentally. He's going to play, and he's going to play an awful lot as a true freshman. He may be starting, I don't know, but he's definitely going to be in the mix."

PENNAMON'S MOVE
As a fourth-year junior who missed his third season due to injury, D'Vaughn Pennamon is just ready to play. Earning snaps in the running back room in Oxford isn't easy this season with talent young and old across the board. So when the opportunity came to make a move to tight end, Pennamon promptly accepted.

"He had some other guys in front of him," Rodriguez said of Pennamon. "He's a great young man. He's eager to play. For him to get a chance to get on the field, the move was probably necessary, and he welcomed it. He's got a great attitude. Playing with multiple personnel sets is something we want to look at doing, and it really depends on if we think we have guys we can win with, and we're giving him a shot there."

So far, Pennamon is taking to his new position well. Standing at 5-foot-11, he doesn't have the prototypical tight end frame. However, he has quickly realized that his skill set from running back is translating well to his new post.

"I'm really enjoying it, getting all the little wrinkles out. I think it'll be a good fit," Pennamon said. "If it's to help the team and better myself, I'm down for it. I'll do it. Whatever it takes. I just want to win."

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Players Mentioned

A.J. Brown

Matt Corral

Kinkead Dent

DaMarkus Lodge

D.K. Metcalf

Jonathan Mingo

Elijah Moore

D'Vaughn Pennamon

John Rhys Plumlee

Jordan Ta'amu

The University of Mississippi Athletics