‘Excited about what we see’: What Lane Kiffin said to start Week 2 of Ole Miss spring football

Now-sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Tuesday reviewed the opening practice of the second week of spring football.

The Rebels, who last season won 10 games for the third time in four years, will go again on Thursday and Saturday. However, those practices are closed to the media and fans. 

Ole Miss is replacing over 72 percent of its starting 22. Kiffin covered the progress made so far, among other topics. Here’s everything he had to say. 

OPENING STATEMENT

KIFFIN: Another week of practice. It’s very competitive out there. I really like the energy of the team. I think portal-wise we got a lot of new players. Probably not as many name brands as last year. There’s a good side of that. You watch guys, even special teams, guys that would probably be starters, in special team drills being competitive. Excited about what we see out there. 

ON BUILDING A BOND WITH NEW OLE MISS QB AUSTIN SIMMONS

KIFFIN: Those relationships, like any relationships, grow with time, and especially as they become the quarterback. You spend much more one-on-one time with them because of things that happened through the course of the season, through the course of training camp. Need to spend more time with them at that point because they have a lot of impact on the team. 

That always takes a little bit of time. It’s not just how many years they’ve been (in the program). It’s more when they become the guy running the first team, I think that relationship grows more.

ON THE INTENSITY OF PRACTICE

KIFFIN: With not as many veteran guys coming in that had as much starting experience, especially in the SEC, I think there’s more mixtures of players that need to play, including there were a lot of returners in that, too. It’s why all these reps count.

ON WHERE THE TEAM IS HEALTH-WISE

KIFFIN: They’re in a better position (than last year). We had a number of guys last year out for spring; even some new guys that came in (like) Princely (Umanmielen) or different guys. There’s a lot more guys out there percentage-wise, which is really good.

ON THE DEFENSIVE LINE

KIFFIN: We’ve got a lot of — which is new for us — young players that have been here for a year or two developing that are really good players. It’s a very talented room. Doesn’t have as much experience, obviously, as the last group, but they really flash and do a lot of good things.

ON THE NFL DRAFT IMPACTING RECRUITING

KIFFIN: That matters. I feel like everything that mattered before has been lessened a little bit because money seems to matter more than everything. But, yes, being able to say this many guys were drafted, and now this many guys, in the portal world, came from the portal, played a year and increased their draft value, I think, is important.

ON THE RETURN OF ANALYST DANE STEVENS

KIFFIN: Dane’s really smart. Good, young coach. Went away and coordinated for a year and brought him back. Does a really good job with ideas. Really glad he’s back. Got a good history with Charlie (Weis, Jr., Ole Miss offensive coordinator), too. 

ON PETE GOLDING PLAYING QB IN THE COACHES SCRIMMAGE PORTION OF PRACTICE

KIFFIN: He actually is really good. We do that sometimes. I don’t know how often you guys are there for that part, but he’s really good. He won’t say it, but he’s really fast and throws the ball really well. I can see why he was, I think, drafted in baseball, somebody said. That might not be true; I don’t know. Or somebody came and worked him out or something for baseball. 

But I think he led his team in tackles. These stories over the years may have changed, so that might not be true when you look it up. But he’s a really good athlete in everything we play, whether it’s baseball, pickleball or playing quarterback. He’s really good. 

ON A NEW PUNTER AND KICKER FOR OLE MISS

KIFFIN: Success helps there, too. We’ve had really good success there, and I think both those guys are going to go make (professional) rosters or get shots at rosters. Those positions are a little harder to make. 

But I think it’s been really good. Carryover of a special teams coordinator being here another year … our whole staff, all 10 guys, come back, which I don’t think’s ever happened here. In general I think that’s really good for chemistry, and both our special teams guys are back.