Rebels Practice in the IPF on Wednesday

Donte Moncrief
Photo courtesy of Chuck Rounsaville, OMSpirit.com

Rain in the Oxford area forced the Rebels inside Wednesday for their afternoon practice. If memory serves us correctly, this was only the second full practice the Rebels have had inside in fall camp. They have been blessed with near perfect weather throughout camp, sans Wednesday.

“It was a good day. I look forward to watching the film because I was moving around a lot, but our two-minute drills was good. We hadn’t done a lot of that and it was good for the defense,” noted Coach Hugh Freeze. “I like what we are doing right now, but it’s also time for us to get our legs under us and start backing off a little.

“We went a little longer than I anticipated today, but it was good work, good work.”

A lot of eyes are on CBs Charles Sawyer and Senquez Golson. Sawyer is doing everything but contact work; Senquez is not to that level yet, still healing from a hamstring inury.

“Senquez went through all of indo, but we can’t let him go full tilt yet,” noted Freeze. “Charles is doing everything but hitting.

“Senquez is in every meeting, he is going through indo and he’s played in this system some, so, you know, I’d say if he can come back Monday and get some live reps, he could help us.”

Random Notes:

* Transfer Safety Anthony Alford’s appeal to the NCAA for immediate eligibility has been denied. Anthony’s initial request was turned down in early summer. Then he appealed that decision and was recently denied. All appeals have been exhausted so Alford will have to redshirt this season.

* TE Nick Parker and TB Kailo Moore both started fall camp with a #4 jersey. Since both are on offense and both are penciled in to play some this year, one of them had to switch numbers. Parker was changed to #34 today. . . Earlier, Slot Receiver Jordan Holder was switched from #7 to #21, allowing freshman TB Mark Dodson to keep #7. There are no other pending conflicts with the duplicate jersey number dilemma.

* TE Christian Morgan, who made a surprise comeback last week when it has been anticipated since last spring he would redshirt this year, appears to be running without favoring the knee that was operated on and appears to be moving fluidly. What will he add to that position? Give it some time. Too early to tell.

* TB I’tavius Mathers was dressed out today after sitting out roughly a week with a sprained ankle. He was heavily taped and did not participate much, but he did go through a few half-speed drills. Hopefully, he will be full speed by early next week.

* CB Senquez Golson and Safety Brishen Mathews were both dressed out, but they were also limited to some side, straight-line running away from the drills.

* Slot Receiver Korvic Neat missed some time last week with a swollen knee. The trainers and team doctors opted for surgery early this week. Freeze said he is “on a four-week rehab program. Hopefully, he will be back around the same time (WR) Vincent (Sanders) is.”

* The Rebel coaches would like to use seven players in their wide receiver rotation. The top seven right now are Donte Moncrief, Ja-Mes Logan, Laquon Treadwell, Jordan Holder, Cody Core, Quincy Adeboyejo and Collins Moore. . . Holder, Treadwell and Moore have been working on the insde (slot) and the other on the outside. “Quincy and Laquon are going to help a lot. Quincy was real high at the beginning, then went through a little slump and is now on the rise again. You don’t realize how big Laquon is until you stand next to him and we like having a bigger body inside. He’s a big dude. Cody Core has had a good week. Jordan is going to help us. Collins Moore will also help some on the inside,” said Freeze. “Laquon missed some today because of soreness, but everyone is sore right now. This weekend, we hope to rest them a lot and come back Monday strong.”

* Early in August camp, the talk surrounding the two freshmen quarterbacks centered mostly around Devante Kincade. Lately, Ryan Buchanan has been making a solid impression on the coaches. Here’s the explanation: He’s sees the whole field, he feels pressure well, he makes quick and correct decisions, he gets the ball out of his hand quickly and he has shown good accuracy. Pretty much the gamut of what makes a good QB.

* Some of the top candidates for the kickoff return team include frontline players Treadwell, Chief Brown, Evan Engram, Keith Lewis and Cody Core; second level players D.T. Shackelford, Mike Marry and Jack Nuismer and third-level middle man John Youngblood. . . As we have indicated before, Jaylen Walton, Trae Elston, Mark Dodson, Dehendret Collins and Kailo Moore are competing for the two return slots. Walton seems to have an edge at one return position. The other is up for grabs.

* The 2014 schedule came out today and Freeze said he likes the way it is set up. “We have two tough openers again with games away from home, but they will be fun to play in and I like the way it is set up next year,” he stated.

-Chuck Rounsaville, OMSpirit.com, Publisher