Spring Practice Report 04.15 - OleMissSports.com—Official Web Site of University of Mississippi Athletics

OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss worked for two hard hours in full pads Wednesday in their final full-speed practice before Saturday’s Grove Bowl.

Training outdoors on the practice fields, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt took a long look at his backup quarterbacks and expressed a need for consistency from redshirt freshman Nathan Stanley.

“We rested Jevan Snead’s arm today, and let Nathan Stanley and Billy Tapp get just about every snap,” Nutt said. “Nathan took off at Saturday's scrimmage, then went backward a little bit. He just hasn’t seen enough different disguises and different looks, so he didn’t look as good the last two days.

“That’s good competition there. That’s good for everyone. I’m anxious to see how everyone responds Saturday, and then we’ll go right into two-a-days with what’s going to be a good little competition.”

In the middle of the defensive line, the Rebels lose a First Team All-America in Peria Jerry but return some experienced tackles in Ted Laurent and Lawon Scott, who combined for 13 starts and 9.5 TFLs last season.

“They’ve been good,” Nutt said. “Lawon has been very consistent. He’s getting pushed by Jerrell Powe. There’s nothing like competition. Ted Laurent, Lawon Scott, Jerrell Powe, those are three good ones in there. Justin Smith is coming.”

Ole Miss returns both starters at cornerback, in an area that has switched from one of great concern last spring to a strength this year.

“I thought at the end of the year they really came on,” said Nutt. “Marshay Green and Cassius Vaughn gained a lot of confidence. We need to keep getting better fundamentally, but I’ve been really pleased with them.

“With Marshay, Cassius and Jeremy McGee, we just can’t get anybody hurt, because after that, we go down in a hurry.”

On the offensive line, Nutt praised the reliability of Brandon Green and the improvement of Mark Jean-Louis and A.J. Hawkins. However, he also noted the importance of finding help for the 2009 season.

“We’re going to need a couple of guys to step up for us in the fall camp, whether it be incoming or the guys we have here, whether it be Don Mosley or Alex Washington,” Nutt said.

“It’s hard to say how (incoming freshman Bobbie Massie) will handle everything. But when you’re 6-foot-8, 340, and can move and be physical, you’re going to play, because at least he can tie. You’d like to dominate but you can’t always dominate in this league, so we’ll take ties.”

Ole Miss will break from practice Thursday and attend the 20th annual Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet at 6:30 p.m. in the IPF. The event is open to the public, and tickets are available in the OleMissSports.com ticket office. This year’s three finalists are Green, Kendrick Lewis and Marcus Tillman.

The Rebels will take part in a light practice on Friday at 3 p.m. before competing in the annual Grove Bowl Saturday at 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Prior to the game, Ole Miss will honor Jerry, Michael Oher and a trio of former Rebels at “Path to the Draft: Ole Miss to the NFL” at 11 a.m. on The Grove Stage. FOX News anchor Shepard Smith will emcee the panel discussion.