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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Ole Miss Football Practice Report: Scrimmage One Done
8/12/2024 | Football
Presented by Oxford Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team held its first fall scrimmage Saturday, its first chance to size itself up in a game-like situation, and the unit Lane Kiffin was most excited to see showed out in the biggest way.
In speaking with the media on Monday, Kiffin recapped the strong showing by the Rebel defensive line and touched on what Ole Miss must do to improve going forward. Receiver Cayden Lee and defensive back Trey Amos also met with the press Monday—scroll down for more.
“We’ve had a good start to our camp. We’ve stayed relatively healthy. I think part of that is our ramp-up type of camp schedule,” Kiffin said. “thought the defense played really well on Saturday. I thought the D-line, especially the top guys, played extremely well. We’re still shuffling around some different ideas on the offensive line, different combinations. We came in throwing more to gage the quarterbacks, after Jaxson Dart especially. I think we got some good work done. We have a long way to go.”
TRE HARRIS MOST IMPROVED?
One of the highlights of Kiffin’s presser was an answer to a question on how valuable Tre Harris is returning to the squad after a phenomenal 2023 season. As much as the Rebel head coach enjoyed Harris last year, he’s even more excited to see what he can do this fall.
“It may sound strange, if we were to vote on most improved players from last season, I would put Tre Harris in that group, which is saying a lot—basically a 1,000-yard receiver with missing some games,” Harris said. “He’s had a great mindset this offseason. Sometimes guys come back and they’re a little comfortable and going through the motions because they know they’re supposed to have this big season. He’s really pushed himself out there. The Tre and Trey matchup is really cool to see because they’re both highly motivated, competitive individuals. It’s really exciting to have him. I think this has a chance to be a really special year for him.”
TRE ON TREY
One of the big reasons Harris has grown so much this offseason was the opportunity to square off with Trey Amos. In addition to a similar first name, Tre and Trey grew up just minutes from one another in Lafayette and New Iberia, Louisiana, respectively. They also share a fierce heart for competition.
“It makes you want it more. Who wants it more? The sense of urgency every play going against Tre Harris,” Amos said. “Me and him doing our thing out there every day in practice. Everything is good.”
Amos is one of three seniors at the corner position for Ole Miss, alongside Brandon Turnage and Isaiah Hamilton. The Rebels also boast six seniors at safety, giving them a wealth of experience in the defensive backfield. Now, Amos and his fellow DBs are focusing on bringing it all together—and he feels they’re well on the way.
“I feel like we are going in a good direction, just trying to play together, have good chemistry and communicate,” Amos said. “I think we’re going to have a pretty solid defense.”
WHOLE NEW LEE
While the defensive backs room looks to be improved, the receiver room is right there alongside it. There’s no questioning the talent at the top of the receiver room, but it’s much more than just Tre Harris. Freshman Cayden Lee sees his unit as the nation’s best.
“I feel like expectations have just increased another level. Just because of the guys they’ve brought in the room. We have, in my opinion, the best receiver room in the country,” Lee said. “So day in and day out, you have to be on your best foot forward, you have to have great practices, you have to keep stacking days, just getting better every day.”
Lee played in 10 games last year, including making his first career start in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. He caught five catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns, and he’s poised to do even more in Year 2.
“I would say I’m a totally different player. My work ethic has increased another notch. I’ve always worked hard, but this year I took it to another level,” Lee said. “Mainly just getting my body right off the field, staying in the treatment room, getting extra catches on the jugs machine, working on timing with the quarterbacks. So I’ve just taken my game to a whole new level.”
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