Football Practice Report: Competition Continues

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team began its third week of spring practice Tuesday morning at the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletics Performance Center, and the competition is only heating up for the new-look Rebel squad.

Lane Kiffin's Rebels met Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium to close their second week of work, putting on an open scrimmage to give fans another early glimpse at the 2022-23 squad.

"Saturday was good, guys made a lot of plays, both sides," Kiffin said. "It has been very competitive. I think the addition of people, like anything, always makes competition and competition makes everything better so that's good. We're just pushing along. Guys have had good energy, good attitude. A lot of the coaching staff adjustments with new guys on the staff has been good."

While position battles are fought all across the field, the No. 1 question from the outside looking in remains who will fill Matt Corral's role at quarterback. Kiffin touched on the competition that is just beginning to brew between returner Luke Altmyer and USC transfer Jaxson Dart.

"I know it's kind of coachspeak. Both guys have made a lot of plays. It's a good competition," Kiffin said. "Without getting into too much depth, Jaxson has made more plays down the field, but he's made more mistakes too. Luke has been a little more consistent that way. Probably what would happen knowing one guy's been in the system longer, so we'll see.

TRIGGER WARNING
While the battle between the quarterbacks continues, some of their targets in the passing game are already starting to shine. No one has turned more heads this spring than tight end Michael Trigg, who transferred in from USC along with Dart.

Trigg has already gone viral during his time in Oxford, showing off his athleticism in a video dunking over Kiffin's son, Knox. Even before the highlight reel dunk, it didn't take Ole Miss long to realize it has something special in the 6-foot-3, 240-pound sophomore from Tampa, Florida.

"He's a unique skillset," Kiffin said. "Knox was here and we were talking about it afterward. You just said grown man catches. I was trying to describe what it looks like. It's like when the older guys play with the younger guys, when there's a high schooler playing with the junior high kids. That's kind of how he plays. He's not necessarily faster or quicker than those everybody. But his ball control, his length, he's younger than them but he looks older than them."

Kiffin recruited Trigg late in the process out of high school, but the Tampa native chose USC. He played in six games, catching seven passes for 109 yards and a touchdown for the Trojans before his freshman season was cut short due to a knee injury. Not having played football since October, Trigg has felt right at home back on the football field in Oxford.

"It's great," Trigg said. "It's kind of different coming from Cali, but it's a great place so I can focus, lock in and have a great time with my teammates."

Trigg isn't alone in the tight end room, playing alongside veteran Casey Kelly and others. Originally a walk-on, Kelly earned a scholarship before spring ball began. Kiffin expects the junior to remain a key part of the tight end room, even with the arrival of Trigg.

"Casey's always been really competitive and has fought through a bunch of injuries and different guys playing in front of him," Kiffin said. "He's having a really good camp too."

DEPTH ON THE D-LINE
Ole Miss will have to replace an All-American in Sam Williams on the defensive front, but even with its top pass-rushing threat headed to the NFL, the Rebel coaching staff is as excited as ever about the group of returners and new arrivals.

"I think up front we've finally gotten it close to where we wanted it to be when we got here," Kiffin said. "It's no secret we haven't felt like there has been a lot of quality players in the front where we can rotate and play guys. I think we're on that way with a lot of different transfers and guys coming in where hopefully we'll be deeper."

After setting the Ole Miss modern era sack record with 12.5, Williams himself tasked Cedric Johnson and Tavius Robinson with breaking that record. Johnson burst onto the scene as a sophomore last season, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks. Robinson, meanwhile, played through a knee injury but still racked up 3.5 sacks in a backup role. The senior out of Guelph, Ontario, had that knee cleaned up in the offseason and is working his way back into full form.

"Of course we want to beat that record. Sam was great," Robinson said. "He was here the other day, and he was working with us, showing some of the guys some of the stuff he learned from the combine…We're growing and it's good, the way everyone has bought in and the way we're locked in as a unit."

UP NEXT
Ole Miss returns to the practice field Thursday for a closed practice followed by media interviews.

The Rebels will once again hold an open practice at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, April 9 and April 16. Fans should park in the Pavilion garage and enter through gate 33 in the southwest corner. Gates will open at 10:45 a.m. and seating will be available in the south grandstand.

Practice times are subject to change. Stay tuned to the Ole Miss football Twitter account for weekly updates prior to each practice.

RebelsCalendar

Players Mentioned

Luke Altmyer

Matt Corral

Jaxson Dart

Cedric Johnson

Casey Kelly

Tavius Robinson

Michael Trigg

Sam Williams

The University of Mississippi Athletics