OXFORD — The University of Mississippi football team took to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday night for a 105-play scrimmage in front of a crowd of approximately 2,000 fans, including 250 former Ole Miss student-athletes on campus for the M-Club reunion weekend.
Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt has been pleased with his team”s progress in the preseason, including the work of senior tailback Enrique Davis, who ran for a pair of short touchdowns in the scrimmage.
“We had a good first scrimmage,” said the Rebels” fourth-year coach. “The players came after it today. I loved the energy. I thought the offensive line did a good job on a couple of series; they executed very well. Enrique did some good things out there. I think he would be the first to tell you he could do better, but he is going to be fine. He is a good back.”
Senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett was also a standout in the two-hour scrimmage, recording 29-yard interception return and a quarterback sack.
“It”s good to see Kentrell get some of the rust off,” Nutt said. “He made some really good plays on the field and he brings a lot of older leadership to the team.”
Lockett wasn”t the only defensive standout. Sophomore Carlos Thompson sacked quarterback Robert Ratliff and forced a fumble that freshman linebacker Serderius Bryant scooped up and returned 24 yards for a score. Nutt said he was pleased with the play of the freshmen, including Bryant.
“The freshmen brought a lot of energy out here,” Nutt said. “They don”t act like freshmen. C.J. Johnson had a big hit and Keith Lewis and Serderius Bryant were all over the field making plays.”
Junior quarterback Zack Stoudt hooked up with freshman wideout Donte Moncrief on a 25-yard touchdown pass, and Ratliff added a pair of touchdown throws, including a 69-yard to sophomore Terrell Grant.
“Each one of the quarterbacks can do something a little different,” Nutt said. “We still have a ways to go, but this was a good first start.”
Ole Miss will return to the practice fields adjacent to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium at 4:30 p.m. today. Practice is closed to the public.
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