Lane Kiffin calls Brycen Sanders a 'special kid'

With the way recruiting modern-day in college football is handled, there’s still a lot of recruiting to be done. But there have been some notable signees from this year’s National Signing Day. One of which for Ole Miss is interior offensive lineman Brycen Sanders. Sanders had his choice of schools to commit to all around the country, but he committed to joining Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

Joining Ole Miss might have been a no-brainer for the Chattanooga, TN, native, given that he is a legacy player. Sanders’s grandfather also suited up for the Rebels during his playing days. And while most would connect Sanders’s unique tie to the program as the reason Ole Miss sought him, Kiffin highlights that it was more than that as he explained what makes Sanders a ‘special kid.’

“Yeah, he’s a special kid, (it’s a) special family. He’s got all the signs to be a really good player and a leader,” said Kiffin. “He stayed with us with a lot of people coming in to get him, including a coaching change and that staff going all out to get him. this is a very impressive kid.”

Baylor School (Tenn.) interior offensive lineman Brycen Sanders committed to Ole Miss over the summer, choosing them over Oklahoma and Tennessee. The No. 245 overall prospect in the On3 Consensus rankings and the 14th-ranked prospect at his position also had pressure to join Auburn from former Ole Miss offensive line coach Jake Thornton. Still, Sanders stayed with the Rebels and looks to be a key building block for their future.

Kiffin says no Ole Miss players opting out of bowl game

One of the biggest concerns facing college football head coaches as they enter into postseason bowl games is players electing to opt-out and prepare for the NFL Draft. And as the Rebels prepared for their showdown against Texas Tech in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday, Kiffin revealed his Rebels don’t have to worry about players opting out of the bowl game.

“Yeah, I’m pleased with the team. Guys that are even in the portal, going other places are still playing. no one is opting out,” said Kiffin.

The Rebels have a handful of players that could be headed off to the next level after this season ends. Those players include offensive linemen Mason Brooks and Nick Broeker, along with wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and star running back Zach Evans. Ole Miss’ regular season did not end the way that they envisioned. The Rebels ended the year on a three-game losing streak to SEC West rivals Alabama and Mississippi State at home and a loss to Arkansas on the road sandwiched in the middle. Still, it appears that all of the Rebels draft-eligible players want to end the season on the right foot with a victory over Texas Tech on Wednesday.