WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Notes, Quotes

The Sports Xchange

November 13, 2018 at 10:44 pm.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

–RB Scottie Phillips sustained an ankle sprain early in the first quarter against the Aggies. He’ll be day-to-day through the week and is questionable for Vanderbilt. Depending on how recovery goes with only one remaining game after Nashville, Phillips could be done for the season. If that proves to be the case Phillips, twice a thousand-yard rusher at Jones County Junior College, will narrowly miss 1,000 yards in his first college season. He has 927 yards right now.

–TE Dawson Knox will miss the first half of the Vanderbilt game, in his hometown of Nashville, after being suspended for a second-half targeting call against the Aggies. The hit was a block against an A&M defender after a catch by Ole Miss receiver A.J. Brown. Knox led with his shoulder, but the defender didn’t see him coming and was therefore in a vulnerable position.

–QB Jordan Ta’amu played at less than full strength against A&M with a sprained ankle sustained in the fourth quarter against South Carolina the previous week. Ta’amu was limited in practice last week and will be again this week, but he is expected to play against Vanderbilt.

–WR Braylon Sanders didn’t play against the Aggies. He also turned an ankle against South Carolina. He’ll be limited this week but is expected to be available against Vanderbilt.

SERIES HISTORY: Ole Miss leads the Vanderbilt series 51-39-2. The Rebels have had good success in Nashville with a 23-28-2 mark. Ole Miss is 3-1 against Vanderbilt with Derek Mason as the Commodores coach. The lone loss was 38-17 in Nashville in 2016.

QUOTE TO NOTE: “We keep battling and trying to find ways to have an opportunity to win the fourth quarter, and we keep coming up short. We’ve got to find a way in the fourth quarter to make the plays you have to make to win games.” — Ole Miss coach Matt Luke