Ole Miss' Jared Ivey set for a homecoming in return to Georgia Tech
The transfer portal makes for some interesting reunions the following year and Ole Miss’ Jared Ivey is going to experience just that this weekend.
No. 20 Ole Miss (2-0) travels to Atlanta to play Georgia Tech (1-1) in its first road game of the season and for Ivey it is a homecoming, having played the last two seasons with the Yellowjackets.
Ivey, a Suwanee, Ga. native, made the decision to enter the portal and landed at Ole Miss. Now three games into his Rebel career Ivey makes the return visit back to his former team.
“Really just excited, man, to go get after it and play another game,” Ivey said on Monday. “Obviously, going back home and playing in front of a bunch of friends and family. I think it’s going to be a super, super fun game.”
In two seasons at Georgia Tech, Ivey played in 20 games and started on the defensive line 13 times. 14 of those games were played at Bobby Dodd Stadium, which is where Ole Miss and Ivey will be teeing it up with the Yellowjackets on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
This is the first trip for Ole Miss and its new-look roster this season. Having a teammate such as Ivey who has very recent experience of playing in that stadium is valuable. Experience Ivey has tried to convey as often as possible.
“I’ve been trying to give my two cents wherever I can,” Ivey said. “Just about any type of guy or stuff that I remember. They’ve had a whole offseason to do what they need to do to prepare the way that they need to prepare. It’s not like it’s the exact same but I’m giving my input where I can.”
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The excitement is also felt by Ivey from his family. He is allotted for player tickets but has received many more requests from friends and family than that.
As for on the field, Ivey show progress from the opening game with Ole Miss to last weekend.
Ivey played 15 snaps and a sack and hurried the Central Arkansas quarterback twice. He was the fifth best pass rusher on the Ole Miss defense as Pro Football Focus gave him a pass rush grade of 73.6.
With a defensive front that is rotating players with a balanced approach through the first two games of the season, Ivey is continuing to find his footing.
“I feel like I’m rushing the passer well,” Ivey said. “I feel like we’re doing a lot in the pass game. (Co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge) and (defensive line coach Randall) Joyner are doing a lot, moving a lot of pieces. So, credit to those guys, but besides that as a unit we need to focus on the run.”
Ole Miss has done well at stopping the run through two games but Georgia Tech will offer a tougher challenge than Troy and Central Arkansas will combined. The Rebel defense has held their first two opponents to 2.2 yards a carry.
Georgia Tech is averaging 4.94 yards per carry and that includes against No. 4 Clemson’s defense.
Watch Ivey’s full post-practice interview from Monday below.
