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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Practice Report: August 21
8/21/2020 | Football
<i class="icon-video"></i> Ben Brown Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Royce Newman Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Jacquez Jones Press Conference<i class="icon-camera"></i> Photo Gallery
Brown, Newman and Jones Meet with Media Following Fourth Fall Practice
OXFORD, Miss. – After their first day off of 2020 fall camp, the Ole Miss football team returned to the practice field Friday, donning both helmets and shells for the second time during the first week of camp.
Following 14 periods of work during the fourth preseason practice, Ben Brown, Royce Newman and Jacquez Jones met with the media via Zoom to give the latest from inside the Manning Center.
BROWN IN FRONT
On the eve of fall camp, Eli Johnson, the team's returning starter at center, announced his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. This left the Rebels with some shifting to do along the offensive front. Fortunately, Ole Miss wasn't left entirely devoid of experience at the position. Ben Brown has started 24 straight games at right guard over the past two seasons, but he has also mixed in a handful of snaps at center along the way.
"It's going great," Brown said of the move to center. "It's just different. Last year I had a little bit of experience with it, I think it was about 99 snaps or so. It's not something completely new, but I'm still kind of getting my feet underneath me. We haven't been in pads since the Egg Bowl, so it's a little bit of an adjustment for sure, but it's nothing new."
Brown commented that he still has some work to do to hone his consistency snapping the football, though the Vicksburg, Mississippi, native is confident that touch will come with time. He also recognizes that he'll have to make the most of each ball he snaps in practice as the Rebel coaching staff has been rotating as many players in as many positions as possible to prepare for the uncertainty that the season will bring.
"We're just trying to make sure everyone's ready. That's the big focus," Brown said. "Carter Colquitt has also been working at center. He's probably the No. 2 center right now. We also have Bryce Ramsey getting reps as well. Both have done a great job. All the young guys have done phenomenal—Eli Acker, Luke Shouse and everyone else—everyone is really stepping up this season. Everyone is realizing, 'Hey, we're might not have to redshirt…we have to be ready to play now.' That's the big emphasis, because anyone's number can be called at any time this year."
NEWMAN'S NEW SPOT
Another veteran on the offensive front, Royce Newman has also been impressed by the newcomers on the offensive line. Ole Miss has 12 underclassmen on the O-line, including five redshirt freshmen and four true freshmen, but with the mindset that their number could be called at any time, the young guys have had to grow up in a hurry.
"All of the freshmen are doing really good. They're stepping up," Newman said. "From practice one to practice four now, they've improved so much. Jeremy James, Jalen Cunningham and all of them, they're really growing into their own and really stepping up."
Meanwhile, the senior Newman is dealing with a position change of his own. He started all 12 games at left guard last year but has shifted to right tackle for 2020. However, even at guard Newman excelled in pass protection, allowing just one sack in 416 pass blocks last season.
"I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the more reps I get," Newman said. "I just have to get used to the speed of going against quick guys instead of a big ol' 330-pound dude at left guard. Really, for me, it's just the speed and getting back to the basics of playing tackle again."
LBs LOVING NEW SYSTEM
The leaders of the linebacker room will also look to help nurture some newcomers as they all navigate a new system together. Jacquez Jones, MoMo Sanogo and Lakia Henry return as the three-headed monster at inside linebacker, each with extensive starting experience and countless tackles to their names.
"Me, MoMo, Lakia, we picked it up, but now the younger guys like Austin Keys, Jakivuan Brown, the freshman linebackers, they're starting to come along," Jones said. "We're going to need them in the season just in case one of us goes down, we're going to need one of them to play. The young guys are starting to pick it up now in Day 4 of camp compared to Day 1."
With nearly one week under their belts, Jones and his fellow linebackers are enjoying the variety that comes with the multiple defensive system coached by D.J. Durkin and the rest of the defensive staff.
"The defense that Coach Durkin brought in, it has a lot of things to go with it," Jones said. "You don't know who is blitzing. You don't know if it's a three-down or a four-down. There is a variety of things he brings with his defense."
Following 14 periods of work during the fourth preseason practice, Ben Brown, Royce Newman and Jacquez Jones met with the media via Zoom to give the latest from inside the Manning Center.
BROWN IN FRONT
On the eve of fall camp, Eli Johnson, the team's returning starter at center, announced his decision to opt out of the 2020 season. This left the Rebels with some shifting to do along the offensive front. Fortunately, Ole Miss wasn't left entirely devoid of experience at the position. Ben Brown has started 24 straight games at right guard over the past two seasons, but he has also mixed in a handful of snaps at center along the way.
"It's going great," Brown said of the move to center. "It's just different. Last year I had a little bit of experience with it, I think it was about 99 snaps or so. It's not something completely new, but I'm still kind of getting my feet underneath me. We haven't been in pads since the Egg Bowl, so it's a little bit of an adjustment for sure, but it's nothing new."
Brown commented that he still has some work to do to hone his consistency snapping the football, though the Vicksburg, Mississippi, native is confident that touch will come with time. He also recognizes that he'll have to make the most of each ball he snaps in practice as the Rebel coaching staff has been rotating as many players in as many positions as possible to prepare for the uncertainty that the season will bring.
"We're just trying to make sure everyone's ready. That's the big focus," Brown said. "Carter Colquitt has also been working at center. He's probably the No. 2 center right now. We also have Bryce Ramsey getting reps as well. Both have done a great job. All the young guys have done phenomenal—Eli Acker, Luke Shouse and everyone else—everyone is really stepping up this season. Everyone is realizing, 'Hey, we're might not have to redshirt…we have to be ready to play now.' That's the big emphasis, because anyone's number can be called at any time this year."
NEWMAN'S NEW SPOT
Another veteran on the offensive front, Royce Newman has also been impressed by the newcomers on the offensive line. Ole Miss has 12 underclassmen on the O-line, including five redshirt freshmen and four true freshmen, but with the mindset that their number could be called at any time, the young guys have had to grow up in a hurry.
"All of the freshmen are doing really good. They're stepping up," Newman said. "From practice one to practice four now, they've improved so much. Jeremy James, Jalen Cunningham and all of them, they're really growing into their own and really stepping up."
Meanwhile, the senior Newman is dealing with a position change of his own. He started all 12 games at left guard last year but has shifted to right tackle for 2020. However, even at guard Newman excelled in pass protection, allowing just one sack in 416 pass blocks last season.
"I'm getting a lot more comfortable with the more reps I get," Newman said. "I just have to get used to the speed of going against quick guys instead of a big ol' 330-pound dude at left guard. Really, for me, it's just the speed and getting back to the basics of playing tackle again."
LBs LOVING NEW SYSTEM
The leaders of the linebacker room will also look to help nurture some newcomers as they all navigate a new system together. Jacquez Jones, MoMo Sanogo and Lakia Henry return as the three-headed monster at inside linebacker, each with extensive starting experience and countless tackles to their names.
"Me, MoMo, Lakia, we picked it up, but now the younger guys like Austin Keys, Jakivuan Brown, the freshman linebackers, they're starting to come along," Jones said. "We're going to need them in the season just in case one of us goes down, we're going to need one of them to play. The young guys are starting to pick it up now in Day 4 of camp compared to Day 1."
With nearly one week under their belts, Jones and his fellow linebackers are enjoying the variety that comes with the multiple defensive system coached by D.J. Durkin and the rest of the defensive staff.
"The defense that Coach Durkin brought in, it has a lot of things to go with it," Jones said. "You don't know who is blitzing. You don't know if it's a three-down or a four-down. There is a variety of things he brings with his defense."
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