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‘Ivey League’ Admissions: Ulysses Bentley, IV, lays out the plan for the Ole Miss RB room

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•03/25/24•

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Ole Miss RB Ulysses Bentley, IV (left) is a guest this week on the Spirit's 'Ivey League' podcast, starring Ole Miss DL Jared Ivey (right)

Lane Kiffin was asked last week which position(s) Ole Miss could target once the second transfer-portal window opens later this spring. 

He immediately aimed his answer at the Rebel running back room. 

Ulysses Bentley, IV, a one-time transfer from SMU, is back to lead the group. He’s in his third Ole Miss season. 

However, Bentley, IV, is also one of the many injured Rebels currently siting out of practices. He has a boot on his left foot, though he said he anticipates getting it off in a couple of weeks. LSU transfer Logan Diggs is out, too. He had knee surgery during the off-season.

“It’s good that we added him,” Bentley, IV, said of Diggs. He was sitting down with his Ole Miss teammate, Jared Ivey, a third-year starting defensive lineman. Bentley, IV, is a guest this week on Ivey’s Ole-Miss-Spirit-exclusive ‘Ivey League’ podcast.  

He continued, “I’ve heard he’s supposed to be back in the season, like probably during the middle part of the season, which would be good for us. I’m just glad that he’s here. 

“He’ll be able to step up when he comes in.”

RELATED: A look back, in photos, at the second full week of Ole Miss spring football practices

Ole Miss rosters intriguing sophomore Kedrick Reescano, too. 

Reescano burned his redshirt playing special teams. He’s a former four-star prospect in the 2023 recruiting class.

Still, with so much uncertainty surrounding the Rebel runners, Ole Miss is keeping its options open. Quinshon Judkins set a new single-season school record for rushing yards as a freshman. However, he transferred to Ohio State in the winter.

“It was definitely tough seeing him go, but he made a decision to transfer and play at another good school,” Bentley, IV, said. “I still keep in touch with him and talk to him. It was tough for him to go, knowing what he did for the last two years.”

Former Rebel Henry Parrish, Jr., jumped into the portal last week. 

The Ole Miss Spirit’s Zach Berry was the first to report the development, and further noted how Ole Miss has already emerged as a potential, if not the leading, landing spot. 

Parrish, Jr., spent his first two college seasons as a Rebel. He left to follow then-Ole Miss RBs coach Kevin Smith to Miami (Fla.). Parrish, Jr., was a leading rusher for the Hurricanes the last two seasons. 

But Smith made his way back to Ole Miss a year ago. Rumors abound the pair could soon be reunited.

“That’d be a crazy one-two punch right there,” Ivey said.

“I think it’s going to be good, man,” Bentley, IV, said. “He was here before I was here. He’s a veteran and knows the offense and he’s pretty familiar with it. It’d be good to have me and him in the backfield like that.”

But Bentley, IV, will get the first crack at workhouse duties. 

He’s headed into his final season of eligibility and after rushing for 540 yards and four touchdowns on 95 carries last season. Bentley, IV, served as Judkins’ primary backup. The Rebels won 11 overall games for the first time in program history.

Bentley has 2,172 rushing yards for his career. He’s averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

“Q was a great player and it was great to have him here, but if he felt like he had to go make that decision for him and his family, I can’t be mad at that,” Ivey said. 

“I think we’ll be just fine.”

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