'Keep playing for him': This season is about more than football for Ole Miss TE Caden Prieskorn

When Caden Prieskorn lined up for his first play against Auburn last Saturday he was doing so with a heavy heart and a heavy mind. The Ole Miss tight end was less than two weeks removed from experiencing a family tragedy.

During the Rebels bye week Prieskorn lost his father, Gerald ‘Jerry’ Prieskorn, at the age of 52. For most of that week Prieskorn went back to his home in Michigan to be with his mother and brother. Prieskorn returned to Oxford and rejoined the team in time to begin preparations for the game against the Tigers.

Doing so was something Prieskorn knew was the only way to honor his father. A thing that is wired into a son’s mind at an early age: continuing making your father proud. In this life or the other.

So, that is what Prieskorn did and inside Jordan-Hare Stadium played a key role in No. 12 Ole Miss coming away with a rare victory on Auburn’s home turf. He finished with two catches for 63 yards.

“It was definitely difficult,” Prieskorn said on Monday. “Just having a lot of stuff on my mind but he always told me, ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing.’ He was always proud of me. He (was) like, ‘Never worry about me. Just worry about what you got going on.’ That kind of stuck with me. He just wants to see me do well and I’m just going to keep playing for him.”

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin acknowledged Prieskorn’s absence but also admired how the Memphis transfer was able to continue playing football while dealing with the emotions of losing a parent at the same time.

Though for Prieskorn football was the only thing he knows.

“I just love the game so much,” Prieskorn added. “My dad, he knew I loved the game so much and he just wants to see me do well.”

This season has been unorthodox for Prieskorn on the field as he did not make his Ole Miss debut until Alabama.

Due to an injury suffered in fall camp Prieskorn had to have surgery and caused him to miss the first three weeks of the regular season.

With four games under his belt, and a baptism by fire with all four being Southeastern Conference games, Prieskorn has finally acclimated himself to the Ole Miss offense.

“Finally being able to be 100 percent. Last week was the first week I’ve practiced everyday,” Prieskorn said. “The best I’ve felt all season, even through camp. I’m just trying to keep things going.”

As Prieskorn became healthier with each week so has the Ole Miss run game. Since Alabama the Rebels have been averaging 198 rushing yards per game with 792 total yards and nine touchdowns over the four-game stretch.

Of the four games Ole Miss has rushed for at least 223 in two of them and over 300 in the LSU game.

Kiffin has credited the run game finally taking off due to the return to health of both Prieskorn and Quinshon Judkins, but having a tight end the stature of Prieskorn has aided in the block schemes.

“I think Prieskorn makes a difference. I know he does,” Kiffin said during his Sunday Zoom. “Big physical tight end and I just think that we’re hitting the runs better from the running back position and being patient and doing a better job up front. I think Prieskorn’s been a big difference from missing him earlier in the year and I think trying to make a little bit too much happen at running back positions early on. Now being more patient and taking what they give us.”