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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Football
Sep 13 (Sat)
6:00 or 6:45 PM
- Title:
- Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks
- Year at Ole Miss:
- Second
- E-mail:
- rebelfootball@olemiss.edu
- Phone:
- 662-915-7890
- Alma Mater:
- Florida State (2007)
A College Football Hall of Famer, Terrell Buckley is in his second season as cornerbacks coach at Ole Miss. A native Mississippian, Buckley joined the Rebels after four seasons at Mississippi State.
With Buckley’s encouragement and coaching throughout the fall, Otis Reese was ready to play the final three games of the 2020 season in which he averaged eight tackles per game. Off the field, Buckley helped Ole Miss reel in a top-25 recruiting class.
Buckley has tutored 13 players who signed professional contracts, including most recently Jamal Peters (Indianapolis Colts) and 2018 NFL first rounder Jaire Alexander (Green Bay Packers). He was also instrumental in helping MSU haul in three straight recruiting classes ranked top-25 nationally.
Buckley’s 2018 cornerbacks unit was part of arguably the most dominant defense in MSU history and in all of college football. Led by Associated Press second team All-SEC selection Cameron Dantzler, Peters, Maurice Smitherman and Chris Rayford, State’s cornerbacks did not allow a touchdown during the 2018 regular season.
The 2017 and 2018 seasons have been two of the best on record in terms of pass defense at MSU. Buckley’s group spearheaded a Bulldog pass defense that was tops in the SEC and seventh nationally at 168.0 yards allowed per game. That figure was also the best by a State defense in 16 years when the 2002 squad allowed 153.9 passing yards per game. The Bulldogs allowed the fewest yards per passing attempt (5.5) in the nation and finished second in passer rating allowed (101.39). Dantzler, a preseason All-American for 2019, led MSU cornerbacks in 2018 with two interceptions.
In 2017, MSU allowed only 174.7 yards per game through the air, which ranked fourth in the SEC and 12th nationally. Buckley’s squad of Lashard Durr, Tolando Cleveland, Peters, Rayford and Dantzler was rarely challenged. As a whole, the Bulldog defense ranked 10th nationally, allowing only 306.3 yards per game. MSU ranked fourth in the SEC in interceptions with 13, including a 90-yard pick six from Peters.
Buckley helped the Bulldogs claim nine victories for the third time in four years, and it culminated with an impressive victory against Louisville in the TaxSlayer Bowl. His disruptive unit forced 2016 Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson into a career-high four interceptions, including one from Dantzler.
Despite a rash of injuries in the secondary in 2016, the Bulldogs ranked in the top tier of the league in interceptions with 14.
Prior to MSU, Buckley spent the 2014-15 seasons coaching cornerbacks at Louisville and helping the Cardinals to back-to-back bowl appearances, including a Music City Bowl victory over Texas A&M in December 2015. In both of Buckley’s seasons, Louisville led the Atlantic Coast Conference in interceptions and turnovers gained.
Despite a young secondary in 2015, Louisville ranked 14th nationally in interceptions with 14. The Cardinals also led the league in turnovers gained (26, 20th nationally) and were second in the ACC in passes defended (66, 30th nationally).
In Buckley’s first season of 2014, Louisville boasted one of the elite secondary’s in all of college football. The Cardinals led the nation in interceptions with 26. As a unit, the squad ranked sixth nationally in total defense (308.5 ypg) and 11th nationally in turnovers gained (30). Buckley mentored corners Charles Gaines and Terell Floyd, both of whom inked NFL contracts following their collegiate careers.
Prior to Louisville, Buckley was a member of Terry Bowden’s staff at Akron, coaching corners from 2012-13.
Buckley got his coaching start after earning his undergraduate degree from Florida State in 2007. From 2008-11, he served in various assistant roles on Bobby Bowden and Jimbo Fisher’s staffs. During his Seminole coaching days, he worked closely with Xavier Rhodes and Patrick Robinson, both first round draft choices. Rhodes is a two-time NFL Pro Bowler, while Robinson won a Super Bowl.
After an illustrious collegiate career at Florida State, Buckley was picked fifth overall in the 1992 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and spent the next 14 seasons in the league. During his NFL career, Buckley amassed 50 interceptions. In 1996, Buckley led the league in interception return yards (164) and, as a rookie in 1992, set what remains a current record as the youngest player to return a punt for a touchdown. Buckley won Super Bowl XXXVI with the New England Patriots in 2001.
Buckley, who was a two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at FSU, earned consensus All-America honors as a junior in 1991 and won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back. That same season, he finished seventh in the voting for the Heisman Trophy. Buckley left FSU as the program’s all-time leader in interceptions (21) and interception return yards (501). He tied school records for touchdowns off interceptions (4) and punt returns (3). His interception return yardage still stands as an NCAA FBS record. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
A native of Pascagoula, Mississippi, Buckley guided Pascagoula High School to a 1987 football state championship and undefeated season. He was inducted into the Pascagoula Athletic Hall of Fame in June 2018. He was born in Columbia, Mississippi, and spent most of his childhood in Gautier.
Buckley was recently married to the former Mechel Lanier He has three daughters, Sherrell, Brianna and Britney.
| COACHING CAREER | ||
| Year(s) | School | Position |
| 2020-Pres. | Ole Miss | Cornerbacks |
| 2016-19 | Mississippi State | Secondary |
| 2014-15 | Louisville | Cornerbacks |
| 2012-13 | Akron | Cornerbacks |
| 2010-11 | Florida State | Strength Coach |
| 2009 | Florida State | Graduate Assistant |
| 2008 | Florida State | Wide Receivers Assistant |
| 2007 | Florida State | Student Assistant |
