Tag: ole miss

Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins (1) gets away from the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense for a long run in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on January 20, 2025.

Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins to declare for draft

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Running back Quinshon Judkins is leaving national champion Ohio State for the NFL draft, he said Friday.

Judkins, who transferred from Ole Miss before the 2024 season, announced his decision to give up his senior season on Instagram.

“To Buckeye nation, thank you for taking in a kid from Alabama and continually showing your support,” he wrote. “I am forever a Buckeye and will carry my time spent on campus and playing at The Shoe with me for a lifetime. Winning a national championship was the best way to end this journey.”

Judkins was a three-star prospect, as ranked by 247Sports, when he landed in 2022 recruiting class at Ole Miss. He spent two seasons there, running for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns, and entered the transfer portal last January.

In 16 games with the Buckeyes, he rushed 194 times for 1,060 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He caught 22 passes for 161 yards and two scores.

Judkins’ star shined the brightest, however, on Monday in the 34-23 win over Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff title game in Atlanta. He scored two rushing touchdowns and caught a pass for another as Ohio State built its lead from 7-7 to 28-7 and gained 121 yards from scrimmage.

“My time here at Ohio State was like no other,” Judkins told ESPN in a phone interview. “It was like no other place I’ve ever been. I enjoyed my time here so much. I’m ready to take the next step in my journey and prove I’m best running back in the draft class.”

–Field Level Media

Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) rushes for yards during the second quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

No. 14 Ole Miss makes statement in routing Duke in Gator Bowl

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Jaxson Dart threw four touchdown passes and Ulysses Bentley IV ran for a pair of scores as No. 14 Mississippi overwhelmed Duke in a 52-20 Gator Bowl romp Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

Coach Lane Kiffin, who expressed his displeasure regarding the College Football Playoff selections, had his team out to prove a point. The Rebels were clicking for much of the game, and they held Duke’s revamped offense in check.

Dart, who’s expected to declare for the NFL draft, made a good final impression as a college player by completing 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards, including a 69-yarder to Jordan Watkins for a touchdown with 1:27 left.

Watkins caught two touchdown passes and Dae’Quan Wright and Antwane Wells Jr. each had one for Ole Miss (10-3), which won five of its last six games. Jordan Watkins was the team’s top receiver with seven receptions for 180 yards.

Duke (9-4), playing under first-year coach Manny Diaz and appearing in the Gator Bowl for the first time, turned to quarterback Henry Belin IV as the starter. Maalik Murphy had departed via the transfer portal and Grayson Loftis, who was the quarterback for Duke’s 2023 bowl victory, also exited for the transfer portal.

Belin was 25 of 44 for 236 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Sahmir Hagans posted the game’s last points on a 99-yard kickoff return.

The Blue Devils were also without running back Star Thomas, who rushed for 871 yards during the regular season before entering the transfer portal.

Duke’s Terry Moore snatched his fourth interception of the season, making a 59-yard return after picking off kicker Caden Davis’ pass on a failed fake to end the game’s opening possession.

But Ole Miss stopped Duke on fourth down on the other side of the field. The Rebels needed just four plays to go 68 yards for the game’s first points on Dart’s 32-yard pass play to Wells.

Duke had a total of 36 yards on 11 first-quarter plays. But trailing 17-0, the Blue Devils marched 75 yards on eight plays to score on Belin’s 16-yard pass to Javon Harvey.

The Rebels scored with 1:52 left in the half on Dart’s 21-yard pass to Wright for a 24-7 halftime lead.

The second-half scoring began on Isaiah Hamilton’s 50-yard interception return for a touchdown as Ole Miss led 31-7.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin in the fourth quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mississippi won 63-31. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 14 Ole Miss has something to prove in Gator Bowl vs. Duke

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There’s no shortage of motivation for No. 14 Ole Miss in the Gator Bowl.

The incentive for Duke might be a bit different, but the Blue Devils will be out to prove something as well Thursday night in Jacksonville, Fla.

Both teams hold 9-3 records but arrived at this point in different ways.

Ole Miss was a contender for a spot in the College Football Playoff, while Duke was under the radar for most of the season. It will be the first meeting between the teams.

“We have a chance to get 10 wins,” Ole Miss tight end Caden Prieskorn said. “… A lot of us know this is our last time really getting to throw an Ole Miss jersey on.”

Ole Miss appears to be fired up for this matchup. Quarterback Jaxson Dart, considered an NFL prospect, has thrown for 3,875 yards and 25 touchdowns. He will play in the game before focusing on draft preparation. Tre Harris had a team-high 1,030 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, though he could be limited by injuries.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has made comments disparaging other conferences in connection to the CFP committee’s selections for the 12-team tournament. So he’s bound to be determined to make a point on behalf of the Southeastern Conference against an Atlantic Coast Conference team.

The Rebels are on board.

“Everybody on this team is just so bought-in on what the coaches and Kiffin has been able to do these last couple years,” receiver Jordan Watkins said.

Duke is looking to cap another strong season with one more statement result despite some potential roster holes.

“You play to win the game and play to try to maximize all your players’ strengths,” first-year Blue Devils coach Manny Diaz said. “You have to do what is necessary to try to move the ball against a highly, highly disruptive defense.”

Duke has been decimated by defections, particularly on offense. Quarterback Maalik Murphy entered the transfer portal early in the process, while running back Star Thomas, who compiled a team-high 871 rushing yards, announced following Christmas that he was leaving. Murphy set the school’s single-season record with 26 touchdown passes.

The QB position for the bowl was further dinged because Grayson Loftis, who started several games late in the 2023 season, entered the portal as well. That leaves starting quarterback duties in the hands of Henry Belin IV.

“Henry is a guy who has won a game as a starter here a year ago,” Diaz said. “It’s a great lesson for everybody in the program that perseverance pays off, and he has a chance now to perform on an outstanding stage against a terrific opponent.”

Diaz said it will be important “to get our timing down for the passing offense.”

Belin will have receiver Eli Pancol, who is wrapping up his college career. Pancol has a team-high nine touchdown receptions.

Duke’s defense will have to rely on cornerback Chandler Rivers, who has been tabbed for several postseason honors. He had three interceptions and caused two fumbles during the regular season. He also notched 7 1/2 tackles for loss.

Duke, which will make its first appearance in the Gator Bowl, ranks second in the country with 14 fumble recoveries and 9.2 tackles for loss per game.

Ole Miss’ opt-out list includes linebacker Chris Paul and safety Jadon Canady.

The Rebels defeated five bowl-eligible teams this year, while Duke topped four.

Duke and Ole Miss have a common opponent in Wake Forest, which was drubbed by Ole Miss in September. It was later revealed the Demon Deacons had pulled out of next season’s game at Ole Miss. That rankled Kiffin and might further fuel his motivation against an ACC foe. Duke rallied to win at Wake Forest in the regular-season finale on a TD pass as time expired.

Duke is 8-8 all-time in bowls, though the Blue Devils have a five-game bowl winning streak. The last four of those victories have come against opponents outside of power conferences.

–Field Level Media

Nov 29, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) reacts after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart leaving for NFL after Gator Bowl

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Ole Miss standout quarterback Jaxson Dart said Friday he will declare for the NFL draft but will first play in the school’s Gator Bowl contest against Duke on Jan. 2.

Dart made his announcement on social media.

“Who would have known that a kid who grew up in Utah would find his way to the great state of Mississippi in order to fulfill his college gridiron dreams,” Dart wrote. “I really and truly came of age at this great University. … All of this being said, we have unfinished business. I CAN’T WAIT to put on that #2 Ole Miss jersey for one last ride with my guys before beginning preparation for the 2025 NFL Draft. As always, I promise to leave every ounce of what I’ve got on that football field one last time for Ole Miss. THANK YOU and Hotty Toddy!”

Dart has played three seasons at Ole Miss and set the school record of 10,213 career passing yards, surpassing school legend Eli Manning (10,119). He has 68 passing touchdowns, second to Manning (81 from 2000-03).

Dart played his first college season for Southern California in 2021 before transferring to Ole Miss. He has passed for career highs of 3,875 yards and 25 touchdown passes this season while being intercepted just six times. The Rebels are 9-3 entering the bowl game.

Dart isn’t projected to be among the top five quarterbacks selected in the draft but will be in the next run of signal-callers.

–Field Level Media

Mississippi's quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) throws the ball during the Egg Bowl game against Mississippi State at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.

Jaxson Dart, No. 14 Ole Miss fends off Miss. State in Egg Bowl

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Jaxson Dart broke Eli Manning’s school passing record, Ulysses Bentley IV had the SEC’s longest run this season and No. 14 Ole Miss beat visiting Mississippi State 26-14 in Friday’s 121st annual Egg Bowl in Oxford, Miss.

In eclipsing Manning’s mark of 10,119 yards set from 2000-03, Dart was 14 of 24 for 143 yards and a touchdown as the three-TD favorite Rebels (9-3, 5-3) struggled through the air.

Dart now has 10,213 yards and moved into 10th all-time in SEC passing yards. He also rushed for 77 yards on 13 attempts.

Bentley, who was healthy but did not play in last Saturday’s 24-17 loss at Florida, had a game-high 136 yards on 20 carries and a TD.

Ole Miss leads the all-time series at 66-46-6.

The Bulldogs’ Michael Van Buren rushed for a TD and was 17-of-32 passing for 280 yards and a touchdown pass to Kevin Coleman Jr. (six catches, 118 yards). Van Buren also threw two interceptions.

Mississippi State (2-10, 0-8) went winless in conference play for the first time since 2002 and lost its 12th straight SEC game.

On the first series, the Rebels’ Chris Paul Jr. stepped in and picked off Van Buren for his first career interception. Caden Davis soon drilled a 39-yard field for a 3-0 lead.

After converting a fake punt, the Bulldogs went for it again on fourth-and-7 at the Ole Miss 34. Van Buren hit Coleman on a shallow cross for a 7-3 Bulldogs lead at 7:54.

In the offensive backfield on third-and-1, defensive tackle JJ Pegues rumbled five yards for his seventh touchdown of the season at 2:16 to cap a 13-play, 75-yard drive. Then on the quarter’s last play, Van Buren scampered in on a keeper from six yards.

Bentley ripped off the Rebels’ longest play of the season when he burst through the middle and sprinted 89 yards for a score and a 17-14 halftime lead.

After missing a 54-yard kick to end the half, Davis drilled one from 43 yards in the third following a muffed punt return by Coleman that was recovered by Suntarine Perkins.

In the fourth quarter, Caden Prieskorn made a juggling 19-yard TD catch at 9:56 to end an 87-yard drive. The TD put Ole Miss up two scores before its goal-line stand with 5:46 left.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) walks off the field after throwing an interception against the Florida Gators during the second half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

No. 14 Ole Miss seeks consolation win over Miss. State in Egg Bowl

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With an important regular-season finale ending a short week, Mississippi has watched its dreams shift from national success to perhaps something it certainly did not want on Thanksgiving weekend:

An Egg Bowl that holds only regional significance and statewide bragging rights.

After their third and disappointing defeat, the No. 14 Rebels will play Friday afternoon in their annual Egg Bowl matchup against rival Mississippi State in the intrastate series in Oxford, Miss.

It will not be easy putting aside the catastrophic 24-17 loss at Florida last Saturday, a soul-crushing setback that all but ended any College Football Playoff aspirations for the most talented Rebels team assembled in a long time. Coach Lane Kiffin’s team slid five spots to 14th in the latest CFP rankings.

The offseason outlook was rosy when Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) shelled out big NIL money and added the top portal class to fill a roster that won 11 games in 2023.

But the Rebels repeatedly shot themselves in the foot Saturday against the Gators. Ole Miss’ high-powered offense turned the ball over three times, went 3 of 14 on third down, failed on two fourth-down attempts, dropped five passes and missed a field goal.

Before the game, ABC’s broadcast noted that the Rebels had an 84 percent chance to make the CFP. Following the loss, that number dwindled to four percent. The only way the Oxford school gets in is if there is the repeated chaos of Week 13, one that talk show host Paul Finebaum called “the most SEC carnage” he had ever seen.

The Egg Bowl has been played on Thanksgiving Day 23 times, including 2017 to last season, but Kiffin feels the afternoon start on Friday is an advantage.

“It helps them to know that playoffs are still alive and they get kind of the first shot to show everybody on a national stage,” Kiffin said Monday, “as opposed to a Saturday game where these people that make the decisions don’t necessarily see all the games because so many are going on.”

For the second time this month, Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby will lead his last-place Bulldogs (2-9, 0-7) against a former boss. The 40-year-old head coach faced Tennessee and coach Josh Heupel, who had Lebby on his staff at UCF in 2018 and 2019, in a 33-14 loss on Nov. 9.

Now he will face Kiffin, whom he was paired with in 2020 and 2021 in their first two seasons at Ole Miss when the school led the SEC in total offense.

A frequent social media user who enjoys trolling others, Kiffin took a jab at Lebby and Mississippi State when the first-year coach was hired.

“We’ve traded texts throughout the season and had communication,” Lebby said Monday. “But no, not this week. He’ll continue to find ways to have fun on social. That’s who he’s always been and who he’ll always be.”

Ole Miss owns a 65-46-6 series advantage and has claimed five of the past seven matches, including a 35-3 “Egg Brawl” victory by the Bulldogs in 2018 that was later vacated.

Another loss to the Rebels would give MSU its first winless SEC season since 2002.

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Mississippi Rebels wide receiver Tre Harris (9) makes a catch for a touchdown over Florida Gators defensive back Bryce Thornton (18) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Ole Miss WR Tre Harris injured, ruled out vs. Florida

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Ole Miss star receiver Tre Harris departed in the second quarter against Florida on Saturday and didn’t return due to a lower-body injury.

Harris fell to the ground and grabbed his hip and groin areas after being unable to hang on to a pass with just over five minutes to go in the first half in Gainesville, Fla.

He wasn’t in uniform when Ole Miss returned for the second half and the school ruled him out a short time later.

Saturday’s game was Harris’ first since Oct. 12 against LSU. He missed the last three games due to a back injury.

Harris entered the contest as the national leader in receiving yardage per game at 141. He caught a 43-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter to go over 1,000 yards for the season.

It was Harris’ lone catch of the game. He has 60 receptions for 1,030 yards and seven touchdowns in eight games.

–Field Level Media

Choctaw County wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, photographed in Ridgeland, Miss., Aug. 10, 2024, is a member of the 2024 Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen.

Ole Miss flips 5-star WR Caleb Cunningham from Bama

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Ole Miss secured a commitment on Wednesday from 5-star wide receiver Caleb Cunningham, who had previously pledged to Alabama.

The significant 2025 recruiting class flip came four days after Cunningham visited his home-state Rebels during their victory against then-No. 3 Georgia.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Cunningham, from Choctaw County High in Ackerman, Miss., is ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver and No. 16 overall prospect in the class by the 247Sports composite.

Cunningham committed to the Crimson Tide on July 13, choosing coach Kalen DeBoer’s program over Mississippi, Mississippi State, Florida, Auburn and Tennessee.

As a junior in 2023, Cunningham caught 48 passes for 1,138 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin’s recruiting class also includes four four-star prospects, per 247Sports: RB Shekai Mills-Knight, S Ladarian Clardy, CB Cortez Thomas and DL Andrew Maddox.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) rushes in the first quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

No. 16 Ole Miss faces tall order as No. 3 Georgia visits

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The No. 16 Ole Miss Rebels find themselves on the outside looking in at a College Football Playoff spot, and blocking the doorway is a perennial national heavyweight and Southeastern Conference powerhouse, the No. 3 Georgia Bulldogs.

The teams meet Saturday in Oxford, Miss., with the Bulldogs (7-1, 5-1 SEC) looking to strengthen their bid for a fourth straight conference championship appearance.

Following Tuesday’s release of the season’s first CFP rankings, Georgia landed within the top three for the fourth straight year. Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2) has appeared in four consecutive initial CFP rankings as well, as high as 10th in 2023.

“It’s a great challenge this week, one we’re excited about,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “I don’t talk about playoffs and championships normally, because I think it’s more about how you prepare, but I told my players that you still have all of those things alive. In my opinion, anybody that’s going to win it is going to have to go through Georgia at some point.”

Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart leads the nation with 3,210 passing yards and a 192.4 passing efficiency rating, to go along with 21 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Dart leads an Ole Miss team that wants to avenge last year’s 52-17 loss to the Bulldogs in Athens, Ga. The Rebels were 8-1 going into that game.

“That game didn’t go very well a year ago,” Kiffin said. “But every game and season is independent and different. I think we’re in a better place.”

Georgia’s defense enters the weekend coming off two impressive showings. In beating then-No.1 Texas 30-15 on Oct. 19, the Bulldogs allowed just 259 total yards. Last week, Georgia gave up only 228 to Florida.

Ole Miss appears to be the unit’s biggest test this season, as the Rebels rank second nationally in yards per game (555.4) and fourth in points with 42.1 per contest. They followed a 26-14 win over Oklahoma on Oct. 26 with last weekend’s 63-31 drubbing of host Arkansas.

Georgia has won four straight games since losing 41-34 at Alabama on Sept. 28. The Bulldogs are coming off a 34-20 victory over rival Florida in Jacksonville, Fla. The heavily-favored Bulldogs trailed the Gators by a touchdown at halftime, and were tied at 20 in the fourth quarter before a pair of late touchdowns iced the game.

Quarterback Carson Beck’s inconsistency arose again in that game. One of the preseason’s Heisman Trophy candidates, Beck threw three interceptions for the second straight game and has been picked off 11 times this season.

The fifth-year senior did throw for 309 yards and two touchdowns in the win, and his 2,302 passing yards on the season rank third in the SEC.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart says Beck had more positive plays than negative on Saturday, but the mistakes are apparent.

“I think I was more pleased than anything watching the tape, because of 73 snaps, he made 68 winning decisions,” Smart said. “Sixty-eight of 73 is pretty good in any sport. I think the concern is that the mistakes can’t be catastrophic. You’ve got to make good decisions. The plays that he turned the ball over on weren’t great looks. You’ve got to play for the next down and move on.”

Georgia leads the all-time series 33-12-1 and has won 11 of the last 12 against the Rebels.

–Field Level Media

Nov 2, 2024; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Jordan Watkins (11) celebrates with quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) after catching a pass for a touchdown in the second quarter against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Jaxson Dart, Jordan Watkins, No. 19 Ole Miss jolt Arkansas

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Jaxson Dart passed for 515 yards and six touchdowns and Jordan Watkins had a career receiving day, lifting No. 19 Mississippi to a 63-31 win over Arkansas on Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark.

Dart completed 25 of 31 passes and rushed for 47 yards for Ole Miss (7-2, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) as it snapped a five-game winning streak by the home team in the series.

Five of his TD passes went to Watkins, a senior wide receiver who set a career high in TDs and receiving yards (254) on eight receptions.

Cayden Lee had five catches for 127 yards while tight end Dae’Quan Wright had nine receptions for 99 yards and two TDs.

Injured early, Taylen Green finished 10 of 14 for 158 yards for Arkansas (5-4, 3-3). Backup Malachi Singleton was 11 for 14 for 207 yards with one touchdown pass to Luke Hasz. Andrew Armstrong had 135 yards on six catches.

After Arkansas stuffed the visitors on fourth-and-goal at the 1 in the first quarter, Rebels linebacker TJ Dottery sacked Green in the end zone, causing a fumble that Princely Umanmielen recovered at 6:56.

Green was hurt on a 14-yard run just over a minute later. Matthew Shipley soon banged a career-long 55-yard field goal to put up the first points.

On the second play in the second, Dart tossed a play-action TD pass to Wright for four yards to move the advantage to 14-3.

Dart found Watkins for 62- and 66-yard scores on the next two series for a 28-3 lead with over 10 minutes remaining, but Rashod Dubinion tallied from six yards out to cut the deficit.

Dart, who passed for 294 yards in the half, capped it with a 3-yard strike to Watkins for a 35-10 halftime edge.

In a high-scoring third, he hit Watkins for the fourth time from 11 yards, while Singleton dashed on a 13-yard TD at 9:49 for a 42-17 score.

Defensive tackle JJ Pegues bulled in for his sixth rushing score, and Watkins went 62 yards with his fifth TD to make it 56-17 at 4:48. Rodney Hill broke the scoring run with a short rush to end the quarter’s scoring.

Wright caught his second TD, a 12-yarder, from backup Austin Simmons at 5:36, and Hasz scored from 22 yards for the final margin.

–Field Level Media