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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Spring Practice Report: The Final Week
4/20/2021 | Football
OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss football entered into the final week of its spring practice Tuesday as the Rebels prepare for the annual Grove Bowl this Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss football are pulling out all the stops this weekend at the Grove Bowl. Fans can get an early glimpse of the 2021 Ole Miss football team on Saturday, April 24, at the Grove Bowl, presented by Mississippi HomeCare. The finale of Kiffin's first, full spring drills with the Rebels headlines a full weekend of athletics events on campus.
"Hopefully there will be a lot of people there," Kiffin said. "It'll be the first time we've been in the stadium without COVID restrictions, so we're expecting a lot of people to be there and for players and fans to enjoy something that a lot of them haven't really been able to do in a while."
The players are just as excited to show the fans what they've been working towards the past five weeks in front of a packed house. For some, it'll be their first chance to see the Vaught packed.
"I'm excited for all of us to come together as one and have a good defensive game," defensive back Jalen Jordan said.
"I've never really been to an Ole Miss game [before COVID]," redshirt freshman Cedric Melton said. "I'm really expecting high energy and bright lights. I just want to see a packed stadium."
Admission is free for the annual intrasquad scrimmage, which will kick off at 4 p.m. CT at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It will be televised by SEC Network+ with announcers Dave Neal and D.J. Shockley, while the Ole Miss Radio Network will broadcast the game across its full affiliate list.
The defense continues to be the talk of this spring. Across the defense, everyone is stepping up their game this offseason and focusing on the tradition of the daunting Landshark defense.
"This spring, I feel like defensively we have [improved], with a lot of new players and a new look with those guys," Kiffin said.
"We have a better swagger to us," Jordan said. "We're performing at a high level, and we have a lot of guys who can roll in and out and can play. We're really coming together and becoming a better defense."
This offseason, defense was a priority. Ole Miss signed 14 defensive players in the top-17 class to bolster the defense and is already seeing the dividends. Making an impact this spring are mid-year enrollees Tysheem Johnson, MJ Daniels and Desanto Rollins.
"We've got a lot of young guys who are coming along this spring," Jordan said. "Tysheem has good size. He plays big, he can cover, he can hit up against linemen. It's the best of both worlds really, being able to blitz and cover."
"MJ coming in new with all those guys has been great," Kiffin said. "That's a big step going from high school obviously. Desanto has done good job, especially for someone who hadn't had a lot of expereice with us."
After waiting his turn, Melton is finally seeing the reward for his patience and hard work. He's been putting in reps with the first team after changing positions from tackle to guard.
"It was definitely a fundamental year to get me ready," Melton said. "Freshman year, I had to build up, and this year I'm trying to get in the groove of things … My development has been really good. This is probably the best I've felt in years."
Switching positions is never easy, but the freshman from Houston, Texas, has had some help from the upperclassmen on the offensive line to help him improve his craft.
"Ben Brown and Caleb Warren have been a big help on the right side, helping get me through it … I feel like this is my spot."
Lane Kiffin, Jalen Jordan and Cedric Melton met with members of the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss springs practice as a whole, as well as Grove Bowl preparations.
| PARTY IN THE 'SIP |
"Hopefully there will be a lot of people there," Kiffin said. "It'll be the first time we've been in the stadium without COVID restrictions, so we're expecting a lot of people to be there and for players and fans to enjoy something that a lot of them haven't really been able to do in a while."
The players are just as excited to show the fans what they've been working towards the past five weeks in front of a packed house. For some, it'll be their first chance to see the Vaught packed.
"I'm excited for all of us to come together as one and have a good defensive game," defensive back Jalen Jordan said.
"I've never really been to an Ole Miss game [before COVID]," redshirt freshman Cedric Melton said. "I'm really expecting high energy and bright lights. I just want to see a packed stadium."
Admission is free for the annual intrasquad scrimmage, which will kick off at 4 p.m. CT at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. It will be televised by SEC Network+ with announcers Dave Neal and D.J. Shockley, while the Ole Miss Radio Network will broadcast the game across its full affiliate list.
Fans can find Grove Bowl information here.
| DEFENSIVE SWAGGER |
"This spring, I feel like defensively we have [improved], with a lot of new players and a new look with those guys," Kiffin said.
"We have a better swagger to us," Jordan said. "We're performing at a high level, and we have a lot of guys who can roll in and out and can play. We're really coming together and becoming a better defense."
This offseason, defense was a priority. Ole Miss signed 14 defensive players in the top-17 class to bolster the defense and is already seeing the dividends. Making an impact this spring are mid-year enrollees Tysheem Johnson, MJ Daniels and Desanto Rollins.
"We've got a lot of young guys who are coming along this spring," Jordan said. "Tysheem has good size. He plays big, he can cover, he can hit up against linemen. It's the best of both worlds really, being able to blitz and cover."
"MJ coming in new with all those guys has been great," Kiffin said. "That's a big step going from high school obviously. Desanto has done good job, especially for someone who hadn't had a lot of expereice with us."
| NEXT MAN UP |
"It was definitely a fundamental year to get me ready," Melton said. "Freshman year, I had to build up, and this year I'm trying to get in the groove of things … My development has been really good. This is probably the best I've felt in years."
Switching positions is never easy, but the freshman from Houston, Texas, has had some help from the upperclassmen on the offensive line to help him improve his craft.
"Ben Brown and Caleb Warren have been a big help on the right side, helping get me through it … I feel like this is my spot."
Players Mentioned
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