.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football Practice Report: Pass Happy
9/22/2022 | Football
<i class="icon-video"></i> Deantre Prince Press Conference<I class="icon-video"></i> Jonathan Mingo Press Conference<i class="icon-video"></i> Jayden Williams Press Conference
Kiffin Meets with Media as Rebels Prepare to Host Tulsa
OXFORD, Miss. – Sitting at 3-0 after a dominant 42-0 road win at Georgia Tech, Ole Miss football welcomes a new challenge this week as the No. 1 passing offense in the nation comes to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium when the Rebels host Tulsa Saturday at 3 p.m. CT on SEC Network.
Head coach Lane Kiffin, as well as defensive end Tavius Robinson, safety AJ Finley, cornerback Deantre Prince, offensive lineman Jayden Williams and receiver Jonathan Mingo, met with the media this week to discuss the season so far, as well as the coming test against the Golden Hurricane.
STATUS QUO
With three games in the books and Southeastern Conference play just a week away, the Ole Miss quarterback battle continues as both Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmyer have shown they have what it takes to lead the Rebel offense.
Dart drew the most recent start, going 10-for-16 passing against the Yellow Jackets with 247 total yards. The sophomore out of Kaysville, Utah, showed some tough running, putting on film a highlight-reel truck stick on a long run in the second half. He also showed some mental toughness, bouncing back from a first-half interception to throw just one incompletion the rest of the way.
"He responded really well," Kiffin said. "Trying to teach him that you have to take every game independent of how you play and what's going on with it. This was a game where we were playing great defense, running the ball really well, so the last thing you want to do is take risks at the quarterback position. You don't need to. Sometimes you do a little more when you're in a shootout. I think he definitely learned from it. You don't like bad things to happen, but if they can happen and you can still win and you can learn from them, then they're better to happen then than in a one-score game that you lose."
Against Georgia Tech, Altmyer was 1-for-2 passing in relief and is 8-for-17 with 125 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on the season. He looked sharp in his one start against Central Arkansas before a minor injury ended his day early. Before making a decision, Kiffin and his staff want to see more.
"I would've liked the opportunity to throw more with Luke, but just having empathy for what was going on in that game and the other sideline and the hot seat or whatever he's on, just really didn't feel like it was right," Kiffin said. "Where if it was a couple-score game or something, Luke would've gotten to throw more there."
PASS HAPPY
While Ole Miss continues to work out its passing game on the offensive side of the ball, its pass defense will have its biggest test to date against Tulsa, which will bring the nation's No. 1 pass offense to Oxford.
"We've got a lot of work to do with better opponents coming up, and it starts with the No. 1 pass offense in the country by far—not even close," Kiffin said. "This is a totally different challenge than we've had. I think some people would say the best team we've played—most challenging team for sure, schematically and passing game."
Tulsa leads the FBS in passing at 413.0 yards per game, well ahead of second-place Washington at 388.7 per contest. Ole Miss has been solid against the pass thus far, ranking 39th nationally with less than 200 yards per game allowed through the air.
However, the clear strength through three games has been against the run, where the Rebels are 10th nationally with 71.7 yards per game allowed. With Tulsa sure to attack through the air, cornerback Deantre Prince and the rest of the Rebel secondary are excited for the test.
"It's a good challenge," Prince said. "Of course they're going to challenge us to be on routes a lot more, make sure that we know the routes and get them down pat. For sure we needed this challenge at this time of the year. I think preparation this week is going to be great and we're going to be prepared for them."
Head coach Lane Kiffin, as well as defensive end Tavius Robinson, safety AJ Finley, cornerback Deantre Prince, offensive lineman Jayden Williams and receiver Jonathan Mingo, met with the media this week to discuss the season so far, as well as the coming test against the Golden Hurricane.
STATUS QUO
With three games in the books and Southeastern Conference play just a week away, the Ole Miss quarterback battle continues as both Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmyer have shown they have what it takes to lead the Rebel offense.
Dart drew the most recent start, going 10-for-16 passing against the Yellow Jackets with 247 total yards. The sophomore out of Kaysville, Utah, showed some tough running, putting on film a highlight-reel truck stick on a long run in the second half. He also showed some mental toughness, bouncing back from a first-half interception to throw just one incompletion the rest of the way.
"He responded really well," Kiffin said. "Trying to teach him that you have to take every game independent of how you play and what's going on with it. This was a game where we were playing great defense, running the ball really well, so the last thing you want to do is take risks at the quarterback position. You don't need to. Sometimes you do a little more when you're in a shootout. I think he definitely learned from it. You don't like bad things to happen, but if they can happen and you can still win and you can learn from them, then they're better to happen then than in a one-score game that you lose."
Against Georgia Tech, Altmyer was 1-for-2 passing in relief and is 8-for-17 with 125 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on the season. He looked sharp in his one start against Central Arkansas before a minor injury ended his day early. Before making a decision, Kiffin and his staff want to see more.
"I would've liked the opportunity to throw more with Luke, but just having empathy for what was going on in that game and the other sideline and the hot seat or whatever he's on, just really didn't feel like it was right," Kiffin said. "Where if it was a couple-score game or something, Luke would've gotten to throw more there."
PASS HAPPY
While Ole Miss continues to work out its passing game on the offensive side of the ball, its pass defense will have its biggest test to date against Tulsa, which will bring the nation's No. 1 pass offense to Oxford.
"We've got a lot of work to do with better opponents coming up, and it starts with the No. 1 pass offense in the country by far—not even close," Kiffin said. "This is a totally different challenge than we've had. I think some people would say the best team we've played—most challenging team for sure, schematically and passing game."
Tulsa leads the FBS in passing at 413.0 yards per game, well ahead of second-place Washington at 388.7 per contest. Ole Miss has been solid against the pass thus far, ranking 39th nationally with less than 200 yards per game allowed through the air.
However, the clear strength through three games has been against the run, where the Rebels are 10th nationally with 71.7 yards per game allowed. With Tulsa sure to attack through the air, cornerback Deantre Prince and the rest of the Rebel secondary are excited for the test.
"It's a good challenge," Prince said. "Of course they're going to challenge us to be on routes a lot more, make sure that we know the routes and get them down pat. For sure we needed this challenge at this time of the year. I think preparation this week is going to be great and we're going to be prepared for them."
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ FootballPRESSER | Pete Golding (12-22-25)
Monday, December 22
PRESSER | Pete Golding - Postgame vs. Tulane (12-20-25)
Saturday, December 20
PRESSER | De'Zhaun Stribling - Postgame vs. Tulane (12-20-25)
Saturday, December 20
PRESSER | Joe Judge - Postgame vs. Tulane (12-20-25)
Saturday, December 20