‘Really good all around’: A full transcript of Lane Kiffin’s latest State of the Rebels

Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin on Thursday met with local media to discuss the Rebels’ ongoing preseason training camp.

Here’s what he had to say.

OPENING STATEMENT

“Alright, so really kind of the same messaging as far as what’s going on out there. I think the guys have had great energy and really coming together. Really good culture for so many new guys, obviously you have culture until adversity hits. Excited about where the team is at. I think the pieces are coming together on defense and limited explosive plays. Sometimes in camp, there’s been an issue defensively, especially last year because of so many new guys coming in, you know that happens. 

“I feel like these new players have come in, and a lot of them have a lot of experience, that’s a big factor in helping that. So, they’re really good about competition in a number of spots, offensive line, more running back competition now, tight ends are very deep, and receivers. So, it’s been really good all around.”

ON THE OLE MISS QUARTERBACKS

“I think those guys are doing really well. I think [Ole Miss co-offensive coordinator and QBs] coach [Charlie] Weis has spent a ton of time with so many new guys. I mean, the whole room knew for the most part scholarship-wise, but Jaxson [Dart] is only going on his second year here. So, they’ve done a really good job. Lots on that position here with the system to be able to function. 

“I think they’re all doing pretty good, so that’s pretty general. Younger guys have really grasped onto the learning system and doing a good job. The older guys continue to improve, Spencer [Sanders] is healthy now. It was not the case all of spring so he’s done some good things, especially in some live scrimmage-type situations.”

ON THE TRANSITION OF OREGON STATE TRANSFER RB JAM GRIFFIN

“Well, I think we’re really familiar with that. I think at Oregon State, Jonathan Smith, they do a great job and they kind of run a lot of what we used to run years ago offensively. So, watching Jam [Griffin] on film was very familiar with what they do. I think this is easier for people that have allowed the evolution of why I’ve changed, it’s because it’s easier on players to learn fast. We’ve shown that with a lot of guys coming here. You know, guys come here really late and start even. 

“Jam’s done a great job and I think that transition period, which would’ve been longer had we been longer terminology, more pro-style, I’m going to shorten up now.”

ON FIRST-YEAR OLE MISS OL COACH JOHN GARRISON

“John is a really great offensive line coach in person and spends a ton of time with them. I’ve had him for years, my brother actually worked with him a long time ago at Nebraska. I had him at FAU for a year before we lost him there. I’ve tried multiple times to get him here and wasn’t able to, so I’m excited about how much guys have improved up there and I think you’ll see some different names playing on Saturdays too as a result of that.”

ON THE IMPACT OF MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING ON TEAM CULTURE

“I think players know or are aware of it more in open doors. The fact, well if the coaches did this, now it’s a lot easier to talk about when issues come up. I think that’s part of the improvement of our culture too with guys coming in and knowing that’s how we do it here, maybe it’s different from where they were at before. You don’t have to go just shut up and play football. I think that’s been really good. It’s much more about helping them in life.”

RELATED: Lane Kiffin had wanted John Garrison back on his staff for years. He made it happen for 2023.

ON A STARTING 22

“Sounds weird for me to say I don’t know because I’m supposed to be the one that knows. I don’t know. You know it’s challenging because both guys do a lot of really good things, both guys have played a lot. Go back to USC at the end so this is Jaxson third year of starting some games. Spencer’s probably started as many as anybody in the country. It’s challenging but it’s an awesome problem to have that battle like that and also have multiple guys instead of one guy I think it makes them better and it makes our team better.”

ON OLE MISS TE HUDSON WOLFE

“I think [Ole Miss co-OC and tight ends coach John David Baker] really restructures this room really well. This has been an issue since we’ve been here when we got here. You guys have seen where we played a game without one last year and they now have quality competition really deep you know four or five guys in there that you know are doing things. So, it’s been really good really refreshing and you know that’s our goal. 

“You know if you want a good team you got to break it down smaller and say, ‘Okay, you got to improve each position group.’ So if our whole team had improved in the last few years like our  tight end group, we’d be a special personnel team, so that’s our goal in those changes in some spots like tight end and quarterback.”

ON THE OLE MISS SPECIAL TEAMS 

“[Special teams coordinator] Jake [Schoonover] has come in and has done a really good job with the guys. We do so much drill work until we get really late towards the game that it’s hard to see it all come together from that standpoint, but I’m excited about it and excited about our kicking game, competition at kicker and our return game.”