The Ole Miss secondary gets its first test with the high-powered Tulsa offense

The top passing offense in the country will face an Ole Miss secondary that is one of the best in the country as well.

Yes, the backfield of the Rebel defense is considered one of its strengths when not too long ago it was viewed as one of the weaknesses.

The turnaround in the secondary has been one that has been a remarkable transformation led by veterans AJ Finley, Otis Reese, Miles Battle and Deantre Prince.

This weekend’s matchup with Tulsa offers a measuring stick game for Ole Miss to see just how transformed its secondary truly is.

The Golden Hurricanes (2-1) roll into Oxford averaging a nation’s-best 413 passing yards per game. They have nearly 100 more passing yards than the second best team, Washington.

In the final non-conference tune up before Southeastern Conference play begins next weekend with No. 9 Kentucky, Ole Miss will be tested in an area it has not been through three games.

“I feel like it’s a good challenge,” Prince said. “Of course they’re going to challenge us to be on routes a lot more and make sure we get the routes down pat. But, for sure, we needed this challenge at this time of the year and preparation this week is going to be great.”

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The secondary comes into the game as the 39th best passing defense in the country

According to Pro Football Focus, Ole Miss is currently graded out as the top coverage team in the country with a score of 92.1.

Opposing offenses are averaging just under 200 passing yards per game. Of course Troy, Central Arkansas and even Georgia Tech did not pose a strong threat through the air.

It changes with Tulsa who will have to try and get more than the 5.2 yards per attempt Ole Miss’ secondary is allowing.

The Golden Hurricanes have two of the 10 top receivers in the nation in Keylon Stokes and JuanCarlos Santana. Stokes is currently the third best wideout with 457 total receiving yards, averaging nearly 158 per game. Santana has 326 for an average of nearly 109 per game.

Stokes and Santana have combined for seven touchdowns through three games.

“They’re really good on the outside so obviously they got the best passing game in the country,” Finley said. “The got some really good receivers outside so we got to be up for the challenge on Saturday.”

Since Lane Kiffin has been at Ole Miss the secondary has slowly improved over the last two-plus seasons.

Of course Kiffin is not the only reason. His hiring of co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge has proven to be a massive boost to a defense that was floundering three seasons ago.

In 2020 Ole Miss had the 125th passing defense in the country, giving up 315 yards per game. Last season it made a jump up to 68th (230 yds/gm). Through three games Ole Miss has improved its standing from last season by 29 spots, but the tougher offense are still around the corner.

Then there was the recruiting efforts that brought in Reese in 2020 and since then Isheem Young, Ladarius Tennison, Dashaun Jerkins and Davison Igbinosun. Those new pieces combined with those who have been at Ole Miss like Finley.

“I just feel like all the guys are bought in to what we have to do and we know what we have to do,” Finley said. “I feel like we take it personally to get that job done every week.”

Watch Finley’s post-practice interview from Monday below: