Sports - Colleges - Ole Miss

Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009

McCluster catches a second wind

The Ole Miss Rebels have been trying to get the ball in the hands of Dexter McCluster.

On Saturday, they finally did. Repeatedly.

McCluster, the Rebels’ 5-foot-8, 165-pound senior, has been a dangerous weapon since his arrival at the school in 2006. He played a key role in last year’s 9-4 season. But McCluster didn’t get a chance to do much in the 22-3 loss to Alabama. His receptions have been down.

That all changed in last week’s 30-17 victory over Arkansas, when McCluster had 123 yards rushing and another 137 yards receiving as No. 24 Ole Miss (5-2 overall) evened its SEC record at 2-2.

The Rebels will try to keep their momentum intact in Saturday’s game against the Auburn Tigers (5-3, 2-3) in a 11:15 a.m. contest at Jordan-Hare Stadium. And they’ll try to keep McCluster’s production intact, even if they monitor the pounding his undersized body is taking.

“We have never had a (tailback) that was this small, 5-8 and 165 pounds,” Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. “You have to always be cautious of how many times he gets the ball in between those tackles. He is tough and he lays it on the line. He has been protecting the ball very well.

“We just try to pick and choose our spots.”

They’ll be doing the same thing against Auburn, which has had some defensive issues of late. Auburn has lost three straight and surrendered 254 yards passing in last week’s 31-10 loss to ninth-ranked LSU.

“(Arkansas) was a critical game and the next one (Auburn) is the biggest game of the year,” Nutt said. “We are going into the game the same way, expecting (McCluster) to touch the ball 15 to 20 times.”

McCluster said Nutt gave him an idea that his role was going to change after the Rebels’ 48-13 victory over UAB. He had just one carry and two receptions in that game.

“Right after the game, (Nutt) grabbed me and said, ‘We’re fixin’ to take off. I hope you’re ready,’” McCluster said.

McCluster can play a variety of positions — tailback, wide receiver, slot receiver and quarterback in the “Wild Rebel” formation. But will he get the bulk of his work at tailback the rest of the way?

“I’d rather not say,” Nutt said.

His smile said you’ll be able to see for yourself.