Lane Kiffin sensing a 'really intense' focus around Ole Miss during camp

Everything is in a more heightened place in Oxford right now with what the expectations are going into this season. That includes the attention level of the Rebels with Lane Kiffin taking notice of that so far during fall camp.

Kiffin spoke about Ole Miss’ concentration during a press conference on Monday to open the second week of practice in The ‘Sip. As for anything different he has seen in his team, he thinks they’ve come into this fall with a focus and mindset that is unlike what they’ve had before.

“Yeah, I think that I really see – I mean I know we talk about a pro-mindset here but I really see more of that way of thinking with them,” said Kiffin. “Like, their focus, you know, is really intense.”

“I mean, again, it’s only a few days but we’ve had an offseason too where we seem to have very little problems, you know, where guys are late or they’re not into it and we’ve got to get them going, you know, or loafing,” Kiffin said. “Like, guys seem really, really into it.”

This is exactly what you’re wanting to hear from Ole Miss considering their upcoming season.

The goals for this year are clear for the Rebels. That was already going to be the case after one of their best records ever at 11-2 in 2023. They’re then further able to possibly best that with what they brought back and what they brought in.

Now, in 2024, Ole Miss looks to be in contention for the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff for the first times ever.

It’s said that if you want something you’ve never had that you must be willing to do something you’ve never done. For Ole Miss, that means coming into the year in a way they haven’t before and in one that Kiffin has already noticed this offseason, especially in the last week.

Joel Klatt defends ranking Ole Miss inside top five of Preseason Top-25

On the latest episode of his show, Joel Klatt ranked Ole Miss as the No. 5 team in the nation.

“I put Ole Miss at five. Ole Miss is really talented,” Klatt said. “Lane Train coming in the portal like just an absolute freight train. They have Jaxson Dart back. They just won 11 games. They’ve got it figured out with NIL. They’re building a great roster. Dart is going into his third year so they’ve got this experience factor. I just – I know that they have to replace Quinshon Judkins but, man, like, Ole Miss feels really good.”

“Now, they don’t have to win the conference. They don’t have to beat the best teams in the SEC in order to go. So now, all of a sudden, you look at a playoff berth and you’re like, ‘Oh, yeah, no, that can absolutely happen’. A reasonable schedule by SEC standards. They have to play Georgia but that one’s at home. They get a home game versus Oklahoma and a road game at LSU. That’s not bad in that conference. So, Ole Miss is a team that I’ve got at five.”