PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jordan Ta’amu hopes to get back in a groove this week. Ta’amu had thrown seven touchdown passes with no interceptions the first two games. When Ole Miss stepped up in competition — way up — he struggled with career-lows in completion percentage (7-for-22) and yards (133). He was intercepted twice and fumbled once. It was downhill after the first pass to DK Metcalf. “The best thing I can do is learn from my mistakes and come out next week stronger than ever,” he said. “I promise you guys this won’t ever happen again.”
–WRs AJ Brown, DaMarkus Lodge and DK Metcalf have been described as “three NFL receivers” by coach Matt Luke as well as opposing coaches, but Alabama’s secondary clamped down on all three. The trio had seven catches combined. Subtract the Metcalf touchdown, and they had six catches for 58 yards.
It’s not a stretch to think they would all return to big numbers against a Kent State secondary giving up 247 yards a game, but the group will be hungry for another test against SEC competition. The next one will come Sept. 29 at LSU which vaulted into the top 10 this week.
–DT Benito Jones had two tackles for loss on the same drive early in the third quarter of last week’s game. Alabama was ahead 49-7 and subbing freely by then, but Jones exploded off the ball, and his plays ignited, for a time, the Ole Miss sideline. “We have to find a way to bottle that, package it, and make it who we are, make it our calling card,” coach Matt Luke said.
“That’s what we’re striving to do.”
Jones, a junior from South Mississippi, finished with three tackles in the game, all of them solos. Ole Miss had six tackles for loss.
–LB Kevontae Ruggs, a true freshman, saw the first extensive action of his career and a couple of times was matched up against his brother, Alabama wide receiver Henry Ruggs. A four-star prospect, Ruggs earned the starting job at outside linebacker in camp but missed most of the season opener and all of Game 2 after suffering a concussion early in the first quarter against Texas Tech. He had four tackles and a quarterback pressure against Alabama. He’s being counted upon for a big role at a position where Luke and defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff have moved numerous guys in and out as they try to identify their best players.
SERIES HISTORY: Ole Miss and Kent State are meeting for the first time.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “We underachieved offensively. They got into some individual matchups and created some issues. We knew we were going to have to win some of those. They put some pressure on Jordan, but we also had some 1-on-1 matchups with our receivers that we were comfortable with. We’re accustomed to winning more of those than we won on Saturday.” — Offensive coordinator Phil Longo
