Game Primer: Ole Miss at Vanderbilt

			OLE MISS (1-4) at VANDERBILT (0-3) Saturday, Oct. 31 • 3 p.m. CT • Nashville, Tenn. Vanderbilt Stadium
Watch • Listen • Live Stats • Digital Program (PDF) Ole Miss Notes (PDF) • Vanderbilt Notes (PDF) • SEC Notes (PDF)

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
• Saturday marks the 95th meeting between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt dating back to 1894.
• It is the third-most played series all-time between Ole Miss and its 2020 opponents (Mississippi State, LSU).
• The Rebels lead the series 50-40-2 overall ... The original record vs. the Commodores is 52-40-2, with wins in 2013 and 2014 by Ole Miss vacated due to NCAA ruling.
• Lane Kiffin is 1-0 all-time vs. Vanderbilt with the lone meeting coming in 2009 when Kiffin was the head coach at Tennessee.
• The Rebels rank top three in the SEC in seven separate categories: total offense (521.0), rushing offense (220.4), team passing efficiency (162.33), fourth down conversion percentage on defense (.333), fumbles lost (1), kickoff return defense (15.92), passing yards per completion (14.05).
• Ole Miss has rushed for more than 240 yards in three straight games, including a season high 283 yards vs. Auburn.
• The Rebel defense has forced a turnover in four of their five games this season.
• WR Elijah Moore is fifth in the nation in receptions per game (9.4) and sixth in the NCAA in receiving yards (591).
• QB Matt Corral ranks ninth nationally in passing touchdowns (12) ... His 338.4 yards per game of total offense ranks No. 12 in the NCAA.
• Kenny Yeboah's 87.6 receiving yards per game are the third-most in the NCAA amongst tight ends.
• Yeboah is one of only four players nationally, and the only tight end, who has three or more catches greater than 50 yards.
• RB Jerrion Ealy ranks No. 16 in the nation with six rushing TDs on the season.

OLE MISS HEAD COACH LANE KIFFIN
Lane Kiffin (Fresno State, 1998) is in his first season at Ole Miss, taking the reins for the Rebels as the 39th head coach in program history. Kiffin, who won two Conference USA titles in three seasons at Florida Atlantic, has more than 10 years of head coaching experience, including eight years at the NCAA level where he has posted an all-time record of 62-38. In December 2016, Kiffin took over an FAU program that had won a total of nine combined games over the previ- ous three seasons. Kiffin proceeded to take the Owls to new heights over the last three years, including two conference titles and two 10-win seasons. In his head coaching stops at USC, Tennessee and FAU, Kiffin has shown a propensity in helping turn programs around. In his first season at all three locations, Kiffin's team improved in win differential (+3.33), scoring (+10.2), passing (+34.5 ypg) and rushing (+51.3 ypg). Kiffin graduated from Fresno State in 1998 after play- ing quarterback for three seasons (1994-96) for the Bulldogs. He began his coaching career as a student assistant at Fresno State under Pat Hill in 1997 and 1998. He moved on to Colorado State in 1999 as a graduate assistant. He spent the 2000 season as defensive quality control assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars under Tom Coughlin.

VANDERBILT HEAD COACH DEREK MASON
Derek Mason (Nor thern Arizona, 1993) is in his seventh year as Vanderbilt's head coach and has a 27-50 record with the Commodores, including an 0-3 mark so far this season. Under Mason's guidance, Vanderbilt has made bowl games twice over the past four years. Prior to coming to Vandy in 2014, he served as associate head coach and Willie Shaw Director of Defense for the Stanford Cardinal from 2011-13 and helped Stanford win consecutive Pac-12 championships and make back-to-back Rose Bowl appearances. Mason was a finalist for the Broyles Award (nation's top assistant) in 2012. Before going to Palo Alto, Mason coached in the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings (2007-09). His pro career also included stops with the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Oakland Raiders. Other college stops include Ohio University, New Mexico State, Bucknell, Idaho State and Weber State.

COMMODORE SCOUTING REPORT
Vanderbilt is 0-3 overall entering this week's game with Ole Miss and is coming off a bye week. The Commodores haven't played a game since Oct. 10 due to their Oct. 17 game at Missouri being postponed until the end of the year. Vandy is averaging 256.7 yards of total offense per game, with 145 coming through the air and 111 yards per game on the ground. True freshman Ken Seals has started all three games at quarterback for the Commodores. He is only the third true fresh- man SEC QB to start a season opener since 1972. Seals is completing 61.5 percent of his passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns. Ja'Veon Marlow and Jamauri Wakefield both share carries in the Vanderbilt backfield. Wakefield has tallied 37 rushing attempts on the season, while Marlow has registered 33 carries. The Commodores are the only school in the SEC to not have recorded a rushing TD this season. Tight end Ben Bresnahan leads Vandy in catches with 11 for 97 yards and one TD. Wideouts Cam Johnson and Amir Abdur-Rahman also both have hauled in a touchdown reception. Defensively, the Commodores are allowing over 450 yards and 33.0 points per game. Vandy gives up over 211 yards on the ground, while holding its opponent to 240 yards through the air. Junior linebacker Anfernee Orji leads the Commodores with 6.3 tackles per game. Vanderbilt leads the SEC and ranks No. 8 nationally with the fewest penalties per game (3.3).

OLE MISS-VANDERBILT SERIES HISTORY
• This is the 95th meeting all-time between Ole Miss and Vanderbilt.
• It is the third-most played series of all-time between Ole Miss and its 2020 opponents (Mississippi State, LSU).
• The Rebels lead the series 50-40-2 overall.
• The original record vs. the Commodores is 52-40-2, with wins in 2013 and 2014 by Ole Miss vacated due to NCAA ruling.
• Ole Miss has won five of the last seven contests on the field vs. Vanderbilt.

TENNESSEE REBELS
The Ole Miss roster features nine players who hail from Tennessee: DB Jalen Denton (Memphis), OLB Luke Knox (Brentwood), DL Clayton Ladd (Brentwood) LS Jared Lawrence (Lebanon), TE Sam Murphey (Paris), LS Jack Propst (Brentwood), OL Luke Shouse (Nolensville), WR Sellers Shy (Memphis), DL Tariqious Tisdale (Lexington).

GHOSTS, GOBLINS & REBELS
Saturday's contest will mark the 16th time in program history that Ole Miss has played on Halloween. The Rebels are 7-7-1 all-time on Oct. 31. Ole Miss and Vanderbilt have squared off once on Halloween with the Commodores earning a 7-0 home victory in 1925.

FIRST-TIME STARTERS
Eleven different Rebels have started their first game in an Ole Miss uniform this season: Nick Broeker (OL), A.J. Finley (FS), Daylen Gill (LB), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), KD Hill (NT), Jeremy James (OL), Reece McIntyre (OL), Hal Northern (DT), Tavius Robinson (Buck), Caleb Warren (OL), Kenny Yeboah (TE). QB John Rhys Plumlee, who started eight games at quarterback in 2019, registered his first career start at wide receiver in the season opener vs. Florida.

REBEL DEBUTS
Sixteen different Rebels have made their Ole Miss debuts this season: Marc Britt (DB), Kentrel Bullock (RB), Carter Colquitt (OL), Lakevias Daniel (DB), Jalen Denton (DB), Daylen Gill (LB), Cedric Johnson (OLB), Deane Leon- ard (DB), Austin Keys (LB), Brandon Mack (OLB), Henry Parrish Jr. (RB), Jamar Richardson (DB), Tavius Robinson (OLB), Chase Rogers (TE), Kenny Yeboah (TE), Jakwaize Walker (DB).

REBEL-COMMODORE CONNECTIONS
• Seven Brentwood Academy alums will be on the field or sidelines when Ole Miss and Vanderbilt face off ... Ole Miss OLB Luke Knox, DL Clayton Ladd and LS Jack Propst were all teammates with the Commodores' DL Nate Clifton, WR Cam Johnson, TE Gavin Schoenwald and P Harrison Smith for the Eagles.
• The Rebels' WR Elijah Moore was teammates with Vanderbilts' Frank Coppet, Julian Hernandez, Griffin Lampton, Grant Miller, Tyler Steen and DC Williams at St. Thomas Aquinas HS in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• DB Jakorey Hawkins and OLB Sam Williams both attended Lee HS with Vanderbilt's Malik Langham.

LIFE IN THE FAST LANE
The Ole Miss offense has started the 2020 season moving the ball up and down the field under head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby. The Rebels rank in the top 3 in the SEC in six offensive categories: rushing offense (220.4, 1^st), total offense (521.0, 2^nd), first downs (134, 2^nd), team passing efficiency (162.33, 3^rd), fumbles lost (1, 3^rd) and passing yards per completion (14.05, 3^rd)

RUNNIN' WILD
Ole Miss currently leads the SEC and ranks No. 17 nationally with 220.4 rushing yards per game. The Rebels have run for more than 240 yards in three straight contests, including a season-high 283 yards vs. Auburn on Saturday. Jerrion Ealy ranks third in the SEC with six rushing TDs, while Snoop Conner is fifth with four TDs.

RETURN OF THE MAC
Punter Mac Brown is no stranger on Rebel special teams. The senior from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, has appeared in 33 career games for Ole Miss and continues to be a special weapon for the Rebels. Brown is averaging 46.2 yards per punt, with seven punts greater than 50 yards.

MOORE OF THE SAME
After leading Ole Miss in every statistical receiving category in 2019, WR Elijah Moore is continuing his assault on opponents' secondaries. Moore has recorded 10 or more receptions in four of the five games this season. He became the first receiver in Ole Miss history to accomplish that feat in four straight contests. Moore ranks top 3 in the SEC in three different receiving categories: receptions per game (9.4, 1^st), receiving yards (591, 1^st) and receiving yards per game (118.2, 2^nd).

MOVIN' UP THE RECORD BOOK
K Luke Logan continues to move his way up the Ole Miss record books. The senior from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is fifth in Rebel history in both career points kicking (222) and PATs made (111).

CHUCKY MULLINS COURAGE AWARD
DB Jaylon Jones became the 30th different Rebel to be awarded the Chucky Mullins Courage Award, which goes to a standout defensive player each year. The award honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away May 6, 1991. Jones wears the No. 38 jersey in Mullins' honor this season.

STRONGER TOGETHER INITIATIVE
During the 2020-21 academic year, college and university athletics programs in Mississippi will incorporate a special logo on their uniforms, equipment, warm-up gear or bags. The logo will serve as a visual representation of the state's schools coming together and will feature school-specific branding with the words "Stronger Together" inside the outline of Mississippi. Alcorn State, Blue Mountain College, Delta State, Jackson State, Millsaps College, Mississippi College, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Southern Miss, Millsaps College, Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi Valley State, Rust College, Tougaloo College and William Carey University are among the schools that are taking part in the "Stronger Together" initiative this season.

MAC BROWN RAISES OVER 100K FOR ALS RESEARCH
When he was in seventh grade, Ole Miss punter Mac Brown had a modest goal of raising $500 for a childhood friend's dad who had been diagnosed with ALS. Along with a group of neighborhood friends, Brown started a lemonade stand, Awesome Lemonade Stand, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, to help his friend's family. Eight years later, that $500 goal has ballooned to over $100,000 raised by Brown and his friends for ALS research. The Awesome Lemonade Stand is held on a late day in June, and this year's fundraiser raised more than $30,000 alone.

OFFENSIVE NOTES
• The Rebels rank top three in the SEC in seven separate categories: total offense (521.0), rushing offense (220.4), team passing efficiency (162.33), fourth down conversion percentage on defense (.333), fumbles lost (1), kickoff return defense (15.92), passing yards per completion (14.05).
• Ole Miss has rushed for more than 240 yards in three straight games, including a season-high 283 yards vs. Auburn.
• The Rebels are No. 17 in the country in third down conversion percentage (.507).
• Ole Miss ranks No. 6 in the NCAA with 10 explosive plays of 40 yards or more.
• Five different Rebels have made their first career starts on offense this season: Nick Broeker (OL), Jeremy James (OL), Reece McIntyre (OL), Caleb Warren (OL), Kenny Yeboah (TE)
• Five offensive players have made their Ole Miss debut in 2020: Kentrel Bullock (RB), Carter Colquitt (OL), Henry Parrish Jr. (RB), Chase Rogers (TE), Kenny Yeboah (TE).
• WR Elijah Moore is fifth in the nation in receptions per game (9.4) and sixth in the NCAA in receiving yards (591).
• QB Matt Corral ranks ninth nationally in passing touchdowns (12) ... His 338.4 yards per game of total offense ranks No. 12 in the NCAA.
• Kenny Yeboah's 87.6 receiving yards per game are the third-most in the NCAA amongst tight ends.
• Yeboah is one of only four players nationally, and the only tight end, who have three or more catches greater than 50 yards.
• RB Jerrion Ealy ranks No. 16 in the nation with six rushing TDs on the season.

DEFENSIVE NOTES
• The Rebels have forced a turnover in four of their five games this season.
• Six different Rebels have made their first career starts on defense this season: A.J. Finley (FS), Daylen Gill (LB), Jakorey Hawkins (CB), KD Hill (NT), Hal Northern (DT), Tavius Robinson (Buck)
• Eleven defensive players have made their Ole Miss debut this season: Marc Britt (DB), Lakevias Daniel (DB), Jalen Denton (DB), Daylen Gill (LB), Cedric Johnson (OLB), Deane Leonard (DB), Austin Keys (LB), Brandon Mack (OLB), Jamar Richardson (DB), Tavius Robinson (OLB), Jakwaize Walker (DB).
• DB Keidron Smith ranks seventh in the SEC in solo tackles per game (5.6).
• Through the first three games of the season, Ole Miss tallied 10 tackles for loss ... The Rebels have tallied 15 through the last two games, including seven Saturday vs. Auburn.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
• P Mac Brown is averaging 46.2 yards per punt.
• Seven of Brown's 16 punts have gone for 50 or more yards.
• K Luke Logan currently sits fifth in the Ole Miss career record books in both points kicking (222) and PATs (111).

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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Players Mentioned

Nick Broeker

Mac Brown

Kentrel Bullock

Carter Colquitt

Snoop Conner

Matt Corral

Lakevias Daniel

Jalen Denton

Jerrion Ealy

AJ Finley

Daylen Gill

Jakorey Hawkins

KD Hill

Jeremy James

Cedric Johnson

Jaylon Jones

Austin Keys

Luke Knox

Clayton Ladd

Jared Lawrence

Deane Leonard

Luke Logan

Brandon Mack

Reece McIntyre

Elijah Moore

Sam Murphey

Hal Northern

Henry Parrish Jr.

John Rhys Plumlee

Jack Propst

Jamar Richardson

Tavius Robinson

Chase Rogers

Luke Shouse

Sellers Shy

Keidron Smith

Tariqious Tisdale

Jakwaize Walker

Caleb Warren

Sam Williams

Kenny Yeboah

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