Challenge Accepted: Ladarius Tennison and the Ole Miss special teams answered the call against UCA
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin was critical of the Rebels’ performance on special teams last week against Troy.
Ladarius Tennison and Co. showed against Central Arkansas they received the message loud and clear.
Ole Miss forced three special teams turnovers, including Tennison’s scoop-and-score first-quarter touchdown of a bad snap on a UCA punt attempt. Ole Miss has now returned a fumble for a touchdown in consecutive seasons.
“Always being prepared for anything,” Tennison said post-game of a 59-3 Ole Miss win. The Rebels are 2-0 and have won won 11 straight home games, their longest such streak since the 60s.
“I knew I had green grass (and) I waited for the guy to try to push the kicker out of the way. I knew to scoop-and-score.”
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Tennison, a transfer from Auburn, made his first career start in his second game as a Rebel.
He had three tackles, as well as a sack and a tackle for loss, for a first-team Ole Miss defense that didn’t give up any points or touchdowns all game.
Ole Miss blocked a punt, too — a feat last accomplished five years ago. The 56-point margin of victory is the largest since the Rebels hung 73 on UT Martin in 2015.
“It was great to see,” Kiffin said of the special teams. “Didn’t think we played well in week one or with the energy or effort we want. They really responded.
“It was great to see because, when you’ve got new quarterbacks, everybody’s got to play well around them. It’s not just the offensive players. It’s defense and special teams, and it’s going to get harder as we go on the road.”
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Tennison was a member of an Ole Miss transfer class ranked as high as No. 2 in the country.
Actually, newcomers make up 44 percent of the roster.
Another is Troy Brown (Central Arkansas), who tied two other Rebels for the team lead in tackles (5). Isheem Young (Iowa State) had his first Ole Miss interception, and Khari Coleman, previously of TCU, notched 1.5 tackles for loss and a half a sack.
Coleman became just the third Rebel to tally 5.0 or more TFLs in a single game since 1999 in his Ole Miss debut.
Ole Miss has held seven straight opponents to 21 or fewer points.
It’s the longest active streak among Power 5 teams and the longest by any Ole Miss team since a wining seven in a row in 2014.
“Those guys have got a lot of energy,” Tennison said of his fellow transfers. “(Jared) Ivey, he’s a big guy that knows how to pass-rush. Troy Brown, very physical, fast and loves to fit the hole. They’ve got a lot of energy. They can play well.”
The Ole Miss defense forced a season-high four turnovers vs. Central Arkansas. The Rebels have caused two or more turnovers in both games so far this season.
Ole Miss has held seven straight opponents to 21 or fewer points — the longest active streak of Power 5 teams and the longest for Ole Miss in nearly a decade (2014).
“I feel like I’ve adapted well,” Tennison said. “Just learning the scheme of the defense. A lot of people play a different position. You’ve got to learn a lot of things.
“I’m adapting real good.”
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