Ashanti Cistrunk

Arkansas

Sep 13 (Sat)

6:00 or 6:45 PM

Ole Miss Football vs Arkansas on October 7th, 2023 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, MS.

Photos by Joshua Mccoy/Ole Miss Athletics

Position:
LB
Letters Earned at Ole Miss:
5
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 230
Hometown:
Louisville, Miss.
High School:
Louisville
Major:
Finance

ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHTS

• Athletic Director's Honor Roll (Fall 2022, Spring 2023)

2023 (SENIOR): Played in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams ... Finished second on the team with 71 total tackles, including 4.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks ... Tallied one interception and one quarterback hurry ... vs. Mercer (9/2/23): Notched five total tackles (one solo) and one QB hurry in 33 defensive snaps ... at #22 Tulane (9/9/23): Notched five tackles in his 50th career (and consecutive) game played at Ole Miss, all solo, in 41 total snaps across defense and special teams ... vs. Georgia Tech (9/16/23): Assisted on five tackles in 31 total snaps across defense and special teams ... at #12 Alabama (9/23/23): Led team in total tackes (8), solo tackles (4), and assisted tackles (4) over 39 total snaps across defense and special teams ... vs. #12 LSU (9/30/23): Tallied five tackles (four solo), 2.0 TFL for eight yards, and a career-high 2.0 sacks ... Ranked as the best in pass rushing per PFF (81.8 grade) ... vs. Arkansas (10/7/23): Posted nine total tackles (one solo), 1.0 TFL for five yards and 0.5 sack for four yards ... Made an interception and returned it 28 yards, which led to touchdown to give the Rebels the lead ... at Auburn (10/21/23): Registered three tackles (two solo) in 31 snaps across defense and special teams ... Named SEC Defensive Player of the Week ... vs. Vanderbilt (10/28/23): Notched four tackles (three solo) in 24 snaps across defense and special teams ... Ranked third in run defense per PFF (72.0 grade) ... vs. Texas A&M (11/4/23): Tallied five tackles (three solo) in 38 defensive snaps ... at #1 Georgia (11/11/23): Recorded three total tackles (two solo) in 40 total snaps ... vs. ULM (11/18/23): Led team with seven tackles (three solo), notched a half TFL in 29 total snaps ... at Mississippi State (11/23/23): Notched nine tackles (one solo) in 43 total snaps across defense and special teams ... vs. #10 Penn State (12/30/23): Recorded three total tackles (two solo) and one TFL across 41 total snaps played in Ole Miss’ Peach Bowl victory.

2022 (SENIOR*): Appeared in all 13 games as a reserve linebacker and on special teams ... Earned one start at linebacker ... Finished the season with 72 total tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss ... Tallied one sack and a forced fumble on the season ... vs. Troy (9/3/22): Recorded two total tackles, while also forcing a fumble for the Rebel defense ... vs. Central Arkansas (9/10/22): Finished the day with four total tackles ... at Georgia Tech (9/17/22): Came off the bench to tally five total tackles and a pass breakup in the Rebels’ shutout win ... vs. Tulsa (9/24/22): Ended his day with five total tackles off the bench for the Rebel linebacking core ... vs. #7 Kentucky (10/1/22): Made two tackles in the team’s 22-19 win over the No. 7 Wildcats ... at Vanderbilt (10/8/22): Recorded two tackles off the bench in the team’s 52-28 victory ... vs. Auburn (10/15/22): Made a total of six tackles after coming off the bench for the Rebel defense, including 0.5 TFLs ... at LSU (10/22/22): Tallied a total of six tackles for the Rebel defense after coming off the bench ... at Texas A&M (10/29/22): Led the team with a then career-high nine total tackles as a starting linebacker for the Rebel defense ... vs. #9 Alabama (11/12/22): Ended his day with four total tackles for the Rebel defense, including 0.5 TFLs against the Tide ... at Arkansas (11/19/22): Finished his night with a total of eight tackles for the Rebels, tying his career-high in TFLs with 2.5 while also notching his first sack of the 2022 season ... vs. Mississippi State (11/24/22): Ended his day with a total of seven tackles against the Bulldogs, including three solo tackles ... vs. Texas Tech (12/28/22): Played a total of 70 snaps as a reserve linebacker ... Tallied career-high 12 total tackles in Texas Bowl appearance.

2021 (JUNIOR): Saw action in 13 games with one start at linebacker ... Tallied 30 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss ... vs. Louisville (9/6/21): Played 44 snaps as a reserve linebacker ... Tied for the team lead with eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss and half a sack ... vs. Austin Peay (9/11/21): Saw action as a reserve linebacker, assisting on five tackles in the blowout victory ... vs. Tulane (9/18/21): Recorded three tackles on special teams and played 11 snaps as a reserve linebacker ... at #1 Alabama (10/2/21): Made two tackles, appearing on eight defensive snaps and five special teams snaps ... vs. #13 Arkansas (10/9/21): Recorded one tackle in snaps on special teams ... at Tennessee (10/16/21): Appeared on one defensive snap and 17 on special teams ... vs. LSU (10/23/21): Notched a tackle, pass break up and a quarterback hurry in 18 snaps as a reserve linebacker ... at #18 Auburn (10/30/21): Made his first career start, logging four tackles ... vs. Liberty (11/6/21): Primarily played on special teams on kickoffs and punts ... vs. #11 Texas A&M (11/13/21): Registered his first career interception, setting up a Rebels touchdown to put the game away ... vs. Vanderbilt (11/20/21): Played one snap on defense and 19 on special teams ... at Mississippi State (11/25/21): Lined up on 14 snaps on special teams ... vs. #7 Baylor (1/1/22): Registered two total tackles in a reserve role.

2020 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in every game as a reserve linebacker and on special teams ... Tallied 32 total tackles and two forced fumbles ... vs. #5 Florida (9/26/20): Played on special teams and as a reserve linebacker ... Tallied a career high five total tackles against the Gators ... at Kentucky (10/3/20): Forced a key fumble on the goal line and totaled two tackles in the win ... vs. #2 Alabama (10/10/20): Ranked fourth on the team with a career-high seven total tackles as a reserve linebacker ... Also saw action on special teams ... at Arkansas (10/17/20): Notched 4 total tackles and combined on a TFL and sack in 24 snaps as a reserve mike linebacker ... vs. Auburn (10/24/20): Saw action on two snaps on defense and eight snaps on special teams ... Recorded one total tackle ... at Vanderbilt (10/31/20): Lined up as a reserve mike linebacker on 28 snaps, tallying six total tackles and forcing a fumble ... vs. South Carolina (11/14/20): Played exclusively on special teams, recording two total tackles ... vs. Mississippi State (11/28/20): Totaled three tackles and a quarterback hurry on 15 snaps as a reserve linebacker ... Also played on special teams ... at LSU (12/19/20): Played 13 snaps as a reserve will linebacker and 14 snaps on special teams ... vs. #7 Indiana (1/2/21): Made two solo tackles as a reserve will linebacker in the Outback Bowl victory.

2019 (FRESHMAN): Appeared in all 12 games as a true freshman, mostly in a special teams role... at Memphis (8/31/19): Saw action on special teams in first game donning a Rebel jersey ... vs. Arkansas (9/7/19): Played on special teams in 31-17 victory in SEC opener ... vs. Southeastern Louisiana (9/14/19): Appeared on kick returns in 40-29 triumph ... vs. #23 Cal (9/21/19): Member of kick return team ... at #2 Alabama (9/28/19): Recorded first career tackle ... vs. Vanderbilt (10/5/19): Secured a tackle in 31-6 victory ... at Missouri (10/12/19): Saw time on special teams ... vs. Texas A&M (10/19/19): Appeared on 11 special teams plays ... at #11 Auburn (11/2/19): Registered first-career solo stop ... vs. New Mexico State (11/9/19): Appeared on special teams and defense ... vs. #1 LSU (11/16/19): Saw time on 14 special teams situations ... at Mississippi State (11/28/19): Made nine special teams appearances ... Member of the 2019 signing class ... Enrolled early and participated in spring drills.

HIGH SCHOOL: Unanimous 3-star prospect by ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports ... No. 29 outside linebacker and No. 15 player in Mississippi in 2019 class (Rivals) ... Played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game ... Tabbed to 2018 Class 4A All-State First Team ... Helped catapult Louisville to the Class 4A State Championship as a senior ... Led the Wildcats with seven interceptions despite missing four games due to injury ... Second on the team with 109 tackles ... Also rushed six times for 106 yards and a touchdown ... As a junior, racked up 133 tackles with 4.0 sacks ... A two-sport athlete, also playing basketball ... Chose Ole Miss over Vanderbilt, Louisiana and Tulane ... Coached by M.C. Miller.

PERSONAL: Son of Rodney and Terri Cistrunk ... Full name is Ashanti D’Varius Cistrunk ... Born Dec. 16, 2000 ... Athletic Director's Honor Roll in fall 2022 and spring 2023 ... Graduated with a bachelor’s in finance in May 2022.