Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly preps for 1st cowbell experience

OXFORD -- College life is often about new experiences. Chad Kelly is about to have a big one.

The Ole Miss quarterback says he'd never seen a cowbell before watching Mississippi State games on TV.

"I'd never been around a cowbell or seen really a cowbell until on TV watching the games," Kelly said at the Ole Miss press day Monday. "I'm just a kid from Buffalo who never heard a cowbell in Buffalo."

It will be a clash of cultures when Kelly visits Starkville Saturday for his first Egg Bowl.

MSU quarterback Dak Prescott is not from Mississippi, but cows aren't foreign to rural north Louisiana, Prescott's home.

Actually, there are at least three dairy farms within an hour of Buffalo, N.Y. Kelly, apparently, didn't tour them on grade school field trips.

When he left Buffalo he spent a year in Clemson, S.C. There's probably a cowbell or two not far from Clemson or from Scooba where Kelly played as a sophomore at East Mississippi Community College.

Bells aside, Saturday's Egg Bowl will match the top two passing offenses in the SEC. Kelly is rated second to Arkansas' Brandon Allen in passing efficiency. Prescott is third.

Prescott and Kelly have combined for 48 touchdown passes, Kelly with 25. Prescott has thrown only three interceptions, Kelly 12.

Kelly's last two games have been turnover-free, and he's been "Dak-like" in his im

big difference between them is the bells will ring with fury against Kelly.

A Winona native knows this.

"It's going to be hard on him," Ole Miss defensive back Chief Brown said.

Nkemdiche, injury update

Linebacker Denzel Nkemdiche was hospitalized last week for what Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze referred to as a "personal matter."

On Monday, Freeze said Nkemdiche's health is improving and did not rule out the idea that he could play against Mississippi State.

"He continues to progress very well. He's under medical supervision, and we are supporting he and his family in every way we can," Freeze said.

Freeze said Nkemdiche's availability against MSU would be up to the family and their doctors.

In other injury news, defensive end Fadol Brown (foot) is doubtful, and safety C.J. Hampton (stinger) is day to day.

Brown has a stress fracture and could miss his second straight game.

He leads the team in quarterback pressures with 11.

Ordway to miss first half

Freshman cornerback Cam Ordway will be suspended for the first half against MSU for his role in a fight in the second half of the LSU game.

This story was originally published November 23, 2015 at 9:12 PM with the headline "Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly preps for 1st cowbell experience ."