OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss head coach Lane kiffin is focused on a clean start for quarterback Jaxson Dart and the Rebels‘ offense as they prepare to host Georgia State on August 31st to kick off the 2024 college football season. Following a prolific offensive campaign in 2023,Kiffin emphasized the importance of execution in the season opener before a challenging Week 2 road game at Kentucky.
Camp reports indicate a more consistent performance from the defensive line, offering a positive outlook for the unit. Expectations are high for both newcomers and returning players. Edge rushers DeShawn Womack, a transfer from LSU, and Princewell Umanmielen, who joins the team from Nebraska, are poised to make an immediate impact. Simultaneously, players developed within the Ole Miss program, including William Echoles and Kam Franklin, are anticipated to contribute substantially.
Georgia State enters the contest under second-year head coach dell mcgee, after completing the 2023 season with a 3-9 overall record and a 1-7 mark in Sun Belt conference play. The Panthers are seeking to improve their performance and establish a stronger foothold in the conference.
Kiffin highlighted the progress of the first-team offense during training camp, while also acknowledging the ongoing growth of depth behind the starters. He noted the integration process for players new to the Ole Miss system, stating, ”The first skilled unit has done really well. We’re developing depth behind that. We’ve got guys that have played other places but haven’t played here a lot. They’ve still got to come together.”
The Ole Miss defense will be looking to build on its 2023 performance, where they allowed an average of 22.0 points per game.The addition of Womack and Umanmielen is intended to bolster the pass rush, complementing returning starters like linebacker Tyrin Rivers, who led the team with 98 tackles last season. The Rebels’ defensive strategy under coordinator Pete Golding will be crucial in containing the Georgia State offense.
Dart, who threw for 3,322 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2023, will be looking to connect with returning receivers like Tre Harris and Jordan Watkins. The Rebels’ offensive success will depend on establishing a strong running game, led by Quinshon Judkins, who rushed for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023, despite missing multiple games due to injury.
The game against Georgia State is scheduled for 3:00 PM CT at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi. It marks the beginning of a challenging schedule for ole Miss, which includes SEC matchups against Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M.
