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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Peach Buzz: What They're Saying
12/28/2023 | Football
Presented by Kroger
ATLANTA – No. 11 Ole Miss and No. 10 Penn State are both storied programs with plenty of bowl history, but when they meet on Saturday, Dec. 30, for the 2023 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, it'll be the first-ever meeting between the programs.
After a month of preparation, the two teams are certainly familiar with one another now. Hear what Penn State players and coaches had to say about Ole Miss this week:
ON THE OLE MISS OFFENSE
Head coach James Franklin
"They're a challenging offense. You take Dart's athleticism. You take their tempo. They're one of the better offenses that we've seen this year. So it's going to be a challenge. Lane's always done a really good job, specifically on that side of the ball, so it will be a challenge. Obviously, as we know in college football, or really in any level in football, your quarterback has a major impact and factor in your success. So a ton of respect for him for what we've seen on film so far."
Defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter
"The first challenge is the tempo. You see it sometimes, but we haven't really seen it on a consistent basis like throughout the game like they do. I think the depth at receiver, the production at the receiver spot that they have and the players that they have. They have three guys on the field that's all over 700 yards. I don't know if we have played a team with that kind of production, maybe Ohio State. And they've got a really good running back corps. Obviously we've seen good running backs. But I think Coach Kiffin does a great job. He has his guys ready to play with the tempo and with their scheme. They can give you some challenges."
"We're just going to go in and play our style of defense. Obviously we have said the word tempo, but we know we play a certain brand of football, and we've been playing it all year. We're just going to do what we've been doing, you know, fast, slow. We've just got to be prepared for it. Our kids know they've got to get their cleats set and get their cleats in the ground and execute. It's been about execution for us all year -- execution, having fun, enjoying it, playing with each other. That's what we've done for 12 weeks, and we want to do it for one more week."
S Kevin Winston Jr.
"What I learned about them, they're explosive, and they move fast. They do hurry-up plays. What stands out to me, they have three great receivers. Every receiver from top to bottom, they're great players. They can make plays. The stats will show that. The film shows that as well. The running back to me, much respect to him. He's a great running back, runs very hard, makes plays. Then the quarterback. So from top to bottom, overall the whole offense, to me, I have much respect for them. They're a great offense, and I'm looking forward to playing against a great offense like Ole Miss."
DE Adisa Isaac
"They know how to get their skill guys into space and make plays. We kind of pride ourselves on stopping the run all year, and this is a team that has some good backs that run hard and some good receivers as well. So they're pretty balanced in that aspect. So we've just got to do a good job of locking that down."
DT Dvon Ellies
"Obviously we just have to stay disciplined as a defense. They're trying to get a lot of plays off. That's a credit to their offense. And as long as you stay disciplined and play our ball, don't try to speed up to their pace, I think we should be good."
S Keaton Ellis
"We're just excited for another opportunity and another challenge that we're ready to face and we're excited to face. We're just ready to get to the game and show everybody what it means to be a No. 1 defense."
LB Curtis Jacobs
"Obviously this is a big-time team. They won't be taken lightly, so we just have to come out and play our ball, and I feel like we can get it done. I've seen their receivers. I think they have a really good passing attack, along with a really good running attack. I think they have, in my opinion, one of the top backs in the country. When you see a balanced attack like that, you really just have to play sound defense, be where you're supposed to be."
ON THE OLE MISS DEFENSE
QB Drew Allar
"We've been saying it all bowl prep that they're a very multiple team, play a lot of even and odd fronts. So we're going to have to be tight on communication up front, whether it's run blocking schemes or pass protection. But as far as their secondary, they've got two really good corners. Safeties are really rangy too. Their corners are impressive. They have a good ability to fall off on routes, pretty savvy, and they've got both pretty good length. With length usually comes tightness, but that's not the case with these corners. They've got really good length and speed, so they're able to track different routes and play the ball really well in the air. It's going to be very important just to make sure I see in front of wherever I'm throwing and don't let those guys get shots on the receiver or make a play on the ball. They use their bigger frame well and jam the receivers pretty well. The corners are really impressive for sure. Then their linebackers are good. They're fast. They play downhill. They make up for like just the outside runs that are able to track sideline to sideline. So they're a really impressive."
TE Tyler Warren
"I think something they have is just talent in all different places. There's not really one spot that really stands out. There's a lot of good players on that side of the ball that are talented and also play with great effort. I think, when you put those two things together, it's a tough matchup. We're excited about it, and it should be a good matchup."
ON JAXSON DART
HC James Franklin
"Obviously, you look at his numbers. He put up really good numbers in the passing game in terms of yards per attempt, in terms of completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio. He's also a guy that can beat you with his mind and decision-making, with his arm and accuracy, but then also with his feet."
DC Anthony Poindexter
"We did face some really good quarterbacks this year that had some good passing attacks. Obviously they're unique in that style of how they play, but like they said earlier, we've just got to try to do what we've been doing all year, play the game in the style that we've been playing all year. Have fun with it. Our best against their best. That's how we've been playing all season."
DE Adisa Isaac
"He's a good quarterback, and their offense is electric, and it starts with the quarterback. He's the head of the snake. We've just got to contain him and try to limit the explosive plays that they do. The tempo is a factor, so they're trying to run a lot of plays. So kind of just being set, being ready for him. Trying not to be caught off guard, give him anything easy. Make him earn everything."
DT Dvon Ellies
I believe it's going to start up front. The best way to get to the quarterback is through the offensive line, and we really respect Ole Miss' offensive line. So we're going to do our best as a defensive line to operate at a much higher level a lot faster to keep up with an explosive, quick offense.
ON QUINSHON JUDKINS
DC Anthony Poindexter
"We have a back on our team I think he's very similar to is Kaytron. He's got that kind of power, tackle breaker, speed through the hole. And even Nick, they're all bigger backs that run with power, got breakaway speed and good vision. Luckily we face those guys each week in practice. Obviously the Big Ten has a lot of big backs like that. He's special, and we give him all the respect."
LB Curtis Jacobs
"I would say he's a really good back. I think our defense is probably one of the most prepared run defenses in the country because we have Nick Singleton and Fatman. Just being able to have those guys and work with them every day, I think there's no challenge we can't handle."
ON THE OLE MISS RECEIVERS
CB Daequan Hardy
"I would just say those are some great receivers. The quarterback, he can throw the ball well, and those guys can make plays. So we've just got to contain them on the perimeter, try to limit the explosive plays, and I feel like we'll be good out there."
S Keaton Ellis
"It's hard to find three receivers with yards like that, and they do a great job of getting them the ball. To have that run/pass, it goes hand in hand. For us defensively, we've just got to challenge in coverage and pressure, and I think we'll like the result."
ON THE SEC MATCHUP
QB Drew Allar
"Obviously Ole Miss is a really good team, and they're from a really good conference as well. That doesn't change the fact that they're a good team. It doesn't matter what conference they come from. They're a very solid team on both sides of the ball. So we've got to do our best and go out and execute the game plan that coaches have put together the past couple of weeks. If we do that, I think we have a good shot."
S Keaton Ellis
"I would say every team isn't the same, and they all have obviously different schemes and different personnel. So we're not really looking at it as like, oh, SEC. I look at it as Ole Miss, and we're going to prepare for Ole Miss like we prepare for Northwestern or whoever the team is we're playing. For us, it's another team, and we're just excited, and we've had a great week of practice thus far and preparation. So we're excited to get to the game."
RB Nicholas Singleton
"We're excited about it. Ole Miss is a good team, really good defense, really good offense. Both sides of the ball are really good. But we're excited we're in SEC territory. Coach Franklin always preaches about that. But we're ready. We're taking it one day at a time. Always have that 1 percent mentality. You get better every day. We're excited. We've just got to get ready to play."
DT Dvon Ellies
"I mean, we respect them tremendously. It just gives us a different look on offense that we haven't seen all season from a lot of Big Ten teams. The skills that they have offensively with their skill positions and their schemes is definitely unlike anything we've ever seen. They try to get a lot of plays off. They try to get their ball to their skill position players. They try to put it in the running back's hand. And they want to control the clock. They have tremendous running backs who run very, very hard, and that's what they want to do. They want to control the clock, get points on the board, and take our offense off the field. But I think this game is just going to be a testament to who we've been all season. Just consistently being able to compete with anybody. We adjust and just play hard no matter who's out there."
COMPARING OLE MISS TO B1G OPPONENTS
DC Anthony Poindexter
"That's hard. Like I say, they've got a uniqueness. We really didn't face a Big Ten team that kind of operated like they did, that they do. Like I say, I think their receiving corps is very similar to Ohio State. Obviously in the Big Ten, there's quite a few really good running backs in the Big Ten, and obviously we have two great ones on our team. I just don't know if we've faced a team that consistently throughout a game tempo that way.
DE Adisa Isaac
"It's hard to pinpoint an exact team that kind of resembles them. I say they're just balanced, and I would keep saying the tempo, but that's a factor in the game. It's just the way they utilize their tools and kind of their scheme helps them be dominant on offense.
DT Dvon Ellies
"The diversity they have on offense is actually really like a special thing. They got the size upfront. Of course, it's the SEC, and then you've got the skill positions. They're very talented there, and they know how to utilize them. They do a great job of that."
Party in the ATL
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
After a month of preparation, the two teams are certainly familiar with one another now. Hear what Penn State players and coaches had to say about Ole Miss this week:
ON THE OLE MISS OFFENSE
Head coach James Franklin
"They're a challenging offense. You take Dart's athleticism. You take their tempo. They're one of the better offenses that we've seen this year. So it's going to be a challenge. Lane's always done a really good job, specifically on that side of the ball, so it will be a challenge. Obviously, as we know in college football, or really in any level in football, your quarterback has a major impact and factor in your success. So a ton of respect for him for what we've seen on film so far."
Defensive coordinator Anthony Poindexter
"The first challenge is the tempo. You see it sometimes, but we haven't really seen it on a consistent basis like throughout the game like they do. I think the depth at receiver, the production at the receiver spot that they have and the players that they have. They have three guys on the field that's all over 700 yards. I don't know if we have played a team with that kind of production, maybe Ohio State. And they've got a really good running back corps. Obviously we've seen good running backs. But I think Coach Kiffin does a great job. He has his guys ready to play with the tempo and with their scheme. They can give you some challenges."
"We're just going to go in and play our style of defense. Obviously we have said the word tempo, but we know we play a certain brand of football, and we've been playing it all year. We're just going to do what we've been doing, you know, fast, slow. We've just got to be prepared for it. Our kids know they've got to get their cleats set and get their cleats in the ground and execute. It's been about execution for us all year -- execution, having fun, enjoying it, playing with each other. That's what we've done for 12 weeks, and we want to do it for one more week."
S Kevin Winston Jr.
"What I learned about them, they're explosive, and they move fast. They do hurry-up plays. What stands out to me, they have three great receivers. Every receiver from top to bottom, they're great players. They can make plays. The stats will show that. The film shows that as well. The running back to me, much respect to him. He's a great running back, runs very hard, makes plays. Then the quarterback. So from top to bottom, overall the whole offense, to me, I have much respect for them. They're a great offense, and I'm looking forward to playing against a great offense like Ole Miss."
DE Adisa Isaac
"They know how to get their skill guys into space and make plays. We kind of pride ourselves on stopping the run all year, and this is a team that has some good backs that run hard and some good receivers as well. So they're pretty balanced in that aspect. So we've just got to do a good job of locking that down."
DT Dvon Ellies
"Obviously we just have to stay disciplined as a defense. They're trying to get a lot of plays off. That's a credit to their offense. And as long as you stay disciplined and play our ball, don't try to speed up to their pace, I think we should be good."
S Keaton Ellis
"We're just excited for another opportunity and another challenge that we're ready to face and we're excited to face. We're just ready to get to the game and show everybody what it means to be a No. 1 defense."
LB Curtis Jacobs
"Obviously this is a big-time team. They won't be taken lightly, so we just have to come out and play our ball, and I feel like we can get it done. I've seen their receivers. I think they have a really good passing attack, along with a really good running attack. I think they have, in my opinion, one of the top backs in the country. When you see a balanced attack like that, you really just have to play sound defense, be where you're supposed to be."
ON THE OLE MISS DEFENSE
QB Drew Allar
"We've been saying it all bowl prep that they're a very multiple team, play a lot of even and odd fronts. So we're going to have to be tight on communication up front, whether it's run blocking schemes or pass protection. But as far as their secondary, they've got two really good corners. Safeties are really rangy too. Their corners are impressive. They have a good ability to fall off on routes, pretty savvy, and they've got both pretty good length. With length usually comes tightness, but that's not the case with these corners. They've got really good length and speed, so they're able to track different routes and play the ball really well in the air. It's going to be very important just to make sure I see in front of wherever I'm throwing and don't let those guys get shots on the receiver or make a play on the ball. They use their bigger frame well and jam the receivers pretty well. The corners are really impressive for sure. Then their linebackers are good. They're fast. They play downhill. They make up for like just the outside runs that are able to track sideline to sideline. So they're a really impressive."
TE Tyler Warren
"I think something they have is just talent in all different places. There's not really one spot that really stands out. There's a lot of good players on that side of the ball that are talented and also play with great effort. I think, when you put those two things together, it's a tough matchup. We're excited about it, and it should be a good matchup."
ON JAXSON DART
HC James Franklin
"Obviously, you look at his numbers. He put up really good numbers in the passing game in terms of yards per attempt, in terms of completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio. He's also a guy that can beat you with his mind and decision-making, with his arm and accuracy, but then also with his feet."
DC Anthony Poindexter
"We did face some really good quarterbacks this year that had some good passing attacks. Obviously they're unique in that style of how they play, but like they said earlier, we've just got to try to do what we've been doing all year, play the game in the style that we've been playing all year. Have fun with it. Our best against their best. That's how we've been playing all season."
DE Adisa Isaac
"He's a good quarterback, and their offense is electric, and it starts with the quarterback. He's the head of the snake. We've just got to contain him and try to limit the explosive plays that they do. The tempo is a factor, so they're trying to run a lot of plays. So kind of just being set, being ready for him. Trying not to be caught off guard, give him anything easy. Make him earn everything."
DT Dvon Ellies
I believe it's going to start up front. The best way to get to the quarterback is through the offensive line, and we really respect Ole Miss' offensive line. So we're going to do our best as a defensive line to operate at a much higher level a lot faster to keep up with an explosive, quick offense.
ON QUINSHON JUDKINS
DC Anthony Poindexter
"We have a back on our team I think he's very similar to is Kaytron. He's got that kind of power, tackle breaker, speed through the hole. And even Nick, they're all bigger backs that run with power, got breakaway speed and good vision. Luckily we face those guys each week in practice. Obviously the Big Ten has a lot of big backs like that. He's special, and we give him all the respect."
LB Curtis Jacobs
"I would say he's a really good back. I think our defense is probably one of the most prepared run defenses in the country because we have Nick Singleton and Fatman. Just being able to have those guys and work with them every day, I think there's no challenge we can't handle."
ON THE OLE MISS RECEIVERS
CB Daequan Hardy
"I would just say those are some great receivers. The quarterback, he can throw the ball well, and those guys can make plays. So we've just got to contain them on the perimeter, try to limit the explosive plays, and I feel like we'll be good out there."
S Keaton Ellis
"It's hard to find three receivers with yards like that, and they do a great job of getting them the ball. To have that run/pass, it goes hand in hand. For us defensively, we've just got to challenge in coverage and pressure, and I think we'll like the result."
ON THE SEC MATCHUP
QB Drew Allar
"Obviously Ole Miss is a really good team, and they're from a really good conference as well. That doesn't change the fact that they're a good team. It doesn't matter what conference they come from. They're a very solid team on both sides of the ball. So we've got to do our best and go out and execute the game plan that coaches have put together the past couple of weeks. If we do that, I think we have a good shot."
S Keaton Ellis
"I would say every team isn't the same, and they all have obviously different schemes and different personnel. So we're not really looking at it as like, oh, SEC. I look at it as Ole Miss, and we're going to prepare for Ole Miss like we prepare for Northwestern or whoever the team is we're playing. For us, it's another team, and we're just excited, and we've had a great week of practice thus far and preparation. So we're excited to get to the game."
RB Nicholas Singleton
"We're excited about it. Ole Miss is a good team, really good defense, really good offense. Both sides of the ball are really good. But we're excited we're in SEC territory. Coach Franklin always preaches about that. But we're ready. We're taking it one day at a time. Always have that 1 percent mentality. You get better every day. We're excited. We've just got to get ready to play."
DT Dvon Ellies
"I mean, we respect them tremendously. It just gives us a different look on offense that we haven't seen all season from a lot of Big Ten teams. The skills that they have offensively with their skill positions and their schemes is definitely unlike anything we've ever seen. They try to get a lot of plays off. They try to get their ball to their skill position players. They try to put it in the running back's hand. And they want to control the clock. They have tremendous running backs who run very, very hard, and that's what they want to do. They want to control the clock, get points on the board, and take our offense off the field. But I think this game is just going to be a testament to who we've been all season. Just consistently being able to compete with anybody. We adjust and just play hard no matter who's out there."
COMPARING OLE MISS TO B1G OPPONENTS
DC Anthony Poindexter
"That's hard. Like I say, they've got a uniqueness. We really didn't face a Big Ten team that kind of operated like they did, that they do. Like I say, I think their receiving corps is very similar to Ohio State. Obviously in the Big Ten, there's quite a few really good running backs in the Big Ten, and obviously we have two great ones on our team. I just don't know if we've faced a team that consistently throughout a game tempo that way.
DE Adisa Isaac
"It's hard to pinpoint an exact team that kind of resembles them. I say they're just balanced, and I would keep saying the tempo, but that's a factor in the game. It's just the way they utilize their tools and kind of their scheme helps them be dominant on offense.
DT Dvon Ellies
"The diversity they have on offense is actually really like a special thing. They got the size upfront. Of course, it's the SEC, and then you've got the skill positions. They're very talented there, and they know how to utilize them. They do a great job of that."
Party in the ATL
Grab the latest bowl gear and your Red gameday outfit through Ole Miss Authentics!
2024 Party in the Sip Sweepstakes
Don't miss any of the action in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in 2024. Fans interested in 2024 football tickets can join our ticket interest list to be the first to know when tickets are available, and to enter the Party in the Sip Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will receive a VIP package for the home opener on August 31. The VIP package includes a premium tailgate experience, participation in the Walk of Champions, two sideline passes, and two field suite tickets.
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