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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Next Man Up
10/18/2021 | Football
Kiffin Recaps Road Win at Tennessee, Looks Ahead at Saturday's Meeting with LSU
OXFORD, Miss. — Throughout the offseason, Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin and players alike talked about the importance of having a "next man up" mentality. However, following Saturday's wild win at Tennessee and Monday's practice, those statements will be amplified going into this weekend's SEC matchup against LSU.
The Rebels (5-1, 2-1 SEC) have reached the midway point of the season with hopes of winning the SEC West still intact. However, things won't get any easier for them with injuries starting to pile up, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Kiffin addressed those concerns when he, Dannis Jackson and Jake Springer met with the media following Monday's practice.
"Offensive players played over 100 plays in the game for us. We were already extremely beat up. We're not in good shape that way for this week. It is what it is. People from somewhere have to step up," Kiffin said.
Matt Corral totaled 426 yards of total offense last Saturday with an impressive 195 yards rushing on 30 carries. Corral created several clutch plays down the stretch with both his arm and legs. However, a late-game injury will have his status for Saturday's game in question according to Kiffin.
"That's not a stat (rushing) that I'm really excited about. We'd like for that to be our running back and not our 200-pound quarterback. He's not in very good shape, hasn't been in the past two days. Hopefully he'll play, but I don't feel really good about that right now," Kiffin said.
Along with an injured Jonathan Mingo and Caleb Warren on offense, Braylon Sanders also joined the list before the first half came to a close. However, Jackson stepped up in a big way at receiver, catching his first career touchdown pass from 33 yards out which has given him a much-needed confidence booster going forward.
"It was big, but it was nothing that I haven't been prepared for," Jackson said. "I've been getting the reps and all that. At that point, I just had to execute the plan. I already had confidence in myself. Once I made that play, It showed that it can be done and that I need to do it again."
On the other side of the ball, Springer made his return after an early-season injury and made a big impact playing near the line of scrimmage this past weekend. Springer finished with 11 tackles, most of which were solo with a sack late in the first quarter, showing that there was little rust for the senior defensive back.
"During practice, I'd be doing conditioning, DB footwork, brakes and stuff like that, just to keep my legs ready and conditioned," Springer said. "They had be on the same type of track that our guys were doing like on the GPS for practice. They tried to keep me on the same type of schedule as far as working out and conditioning. They did a great job and I came out with fresh legs, feeling good."
This return is conveniently timed as Saturday's game against LSU should give him more opportunities to create negative plays. Despite the turmoil surrounding their program with head coach Ed Orgeron, a disappointing season and players injured or in the transfer portal, the Tigers put it all together last week in Baton Rouge. LSU used their resurgent run game to knock off then-No. 20 Florida to snap a two-game losing skid.
"LSU always has great players. They put it together on Saturday in the run game. I saw the back running people over, looking like Leonard Fournette. That's a challenge," Kiffin said.
Kickoff for Saturday's matchup against LSU is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and can be seen on CBS or listened to on the Ole Miss Radio Network.
