Preseason Football – Rebels go to full pads

Cain Madden | The Daily Mississippian
True Freshman Nickolas Brassell of Batesville makes a catch during Wednesday's
practice. Coach Huston Nutt said two-way player Brassell continues to impress him.

By Bennett Hipp

Ole Miss practiced in the full pads for the first time Wednesday afternoon, and the Rebels seemed somewhat sluggish as they made the transition from shoulder pads to full pads.

“The pads were a little extra weight on them today,” Nutt said. “You find out a lot about them – especially our younger people – about who can handle this mental part when we keep all these new installs going in.”

In what has become a norm this fall practice, Nutt had high praise for some of the freshmen that have continued to play well during practice.

“I’ve been really proud of guys like Keith Lewis, C.J. Johnson and Serderius Bryant,” Nutt said. “They continue to show up. Our freshman guys like Senquez Golson on defense, Chief Brown and Cody Prewitt. What an athlete, (Prewitt) can really run. I’m excited about him.”

Senior defensive end Kentrell Lockett returned to practice after being held out Tuesday with soreness in his patella tendon, while sophomore linebacker Ralph Williams saw more action after sophomore linebacker Mike Marry got banged up early in practice.

As the battle for playing time at the receiver position continues, only a couple of the receivers and tight ends showed out on Wednesday, according to Nutt. Freshman two-way player Nickolas Brassell continues to impress, while junior college transfer Jamal Mosley has been a revelation at tight end for the Rebels.

“Nick Brassell picked us up today,” Nutt said. “It seemed like he was about the only receiver that really got going – him and Jamal Mosley. Tobias Singleton also has been very consistent, but we’ve got to have more of those guys come on.”

Senior running back Brandon Bolden felt that the Rebels started to hit a wall towards the end of practice.

“You’ve got to push through it like coach Nutt kept saying,” Bolden said. “It is a man’s game and the best will rise.”

Ole Miss will practice in full pads for the second time on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. on the practice field, and it will be open to the public. Saturday’s scrimmage, tentatively set for 6 p.m., will also be open to the public.