Everything you will need to watch in the Grove Bowl
OXFORD — Be sure to keep a copy of the Ole Miss football roster ready when watching this Saturday’s Grove Bowl.
Ole Miss hosts its annual spring scrimmage in Vaught Hemingway Stadium on Saturday (12 p.m., SEC Network+). Perhaps more than any year, this spring’s Grove Bowl will be a showcase of new talent. With three new coordinators, three early enrolled freshmen and 12 early enrolled transfer portal adds, there will be a lot of new faces and jersey numbers to take in.
With that in mind, here’s a Grove Bowl viewing guide, breaking down which position battles, newcomers and important narratives to pay attention to in Saturday’s spring game.
The quarterback battle
Sophomores Luke Altmyer and Jaxson Dart have battled for the job of firstteam quarterback. Through four weeks and three scrimmages, neither has separated from the other.
Dart, the transfer from Southern Cal, has made more flashy, downfield throws but has also thrown more interceptions and generally made more mistakes. Altmyer, the Starkville native who was the Rebels’ backup last year, hasn’t shown the same gun-slinging ability as Dart but has been more consistent, and his command of the playbook and offense looks smoother.
What to watch for: Pay attention to the plays both quarterbacks make against the first-team defense. Watch for Dart’s fearlessness and the boombust results on his throws. Watch for Altmyer’s fluidity in the pocket and see how he fares if and when he takes chances downfield. Bear in mind both quarterbacks like to use their legs and that aspect of their games will be severely limited against their own defense.
Other position battles
Quarterback isn’t the only position Ole Miss will be showcasing competition. There are also battles at wide receiver, running back, defensive line and linebacker for different reasons.
At receiver, it’ll be interesting to see who is available. Seniors Jonathan Mingo and Jalen Knox and Louisville transfer Jordan Watkins have all missed time this spring with injuries. In their absence, no one has stood out above the rest. If injuries keep all of those players out of the Grove Bowl, it’s likely younger players like Bralon Brown, Brandon Buckhaulter and JJ Henry will take reps with the first-, second- and possibly third-team units in a scramble for bodies.
At linebacker, the competition is interesting because the group is so thin. Ashanti Cistrunk is the only healthy, returning player on the roster. Central Michigan transfer Troy Brown, TCU transfer Khari Coleman and Northeast Mississippi transfer Reginald Hughes are in place and defensive ends like Demon Clowney have taken reps in the middle, too.
At defensive line and running back, the battles are because of a surplus of depth. Transfers Zach Evans and Ulysses Bentley and freshman Quinshon Judkins joins Kentrel Bullock in the running back room. Transfer Jared Ivey and junior Brandon Mack join Cedric Johnson and Tavius Robinson on the edge with Auburn transfer JJ Pegues playing alongside KD Hill, Isaiah Iton and Jamond Gordon.
What to watch for: Look at receiver depth and pay attention to which players are getting reps with multiple units. Track the linebacker rotation and see if any players shift there from out of position. See if the rotation at running back and defensive line is mostly even or if any players stand out about the rest.
New faces, schemes
Co-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. has replaced Jeff Lebby as Ole Miss’ play-caller. Co-defensive coordinator Chris Partridge will be calling plays for the first time in his career. Ole Miss’ schemes haven’t changed very much, but the new voices on the headset might chance a few procedural and strategic choices.
Saturday should also be a chance to see some of Ole Miss’ most important transfer adds.
Along with Dart, Watkins, Ivey and Pegues, look out for tight end Michael Trigg, right tackle Mason Brooks and safety Ladarius Tennison. Trigg and Tennison in particular have turned heads this spring.
What to watch for: See whether the offense is able to keep its tempo high and if how the defense reacts and manages substitutions. Look out for Trigg as a big-play threat and for Tennison as a box safety who hits hard and functions as an extra linebacker.
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.