No. 16 Ole Miss anxious to clash with No. 13 Cowboys in Sugar Bowl
NEW ORLEANS - Ole Miss players trickled into the Big Easy throughout the day Saturday.
The Rebels have been able to mix pleasure - visiting the World War II Museum and experiencing what New Orleans has to offer - with work.
It's been fun to bounce around the bustling city during down time, but Ole Miss' players say they're ready for New Years Day to finally arrive so they redeem last year's bowl blowout.
"When we came down here we made sure we were all about business first," receiver Quincy Adeboyejo said after the No. 16 Rebels (9-3 overall, 6-2 SEC) wrapped up practice at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. "We had a little fun, but when it was time to practice I feel like we put in the work."
Flanked by reporters, defensive lineman D.J. Jones added: "We're just ready to play in this game. It's been a pretty long week. We're ready to go."
The Rebels practiced for several hours at the Superdome on Wednesday in preparation for facing No. 13 Oklahoma State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) at 7:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN.
Running back Jordan Wilkins said he liked what he saw from his teammates Wednesday.
"With this team, the best we play is when we play relaxed," he said. "We don't have to be up tight, but we still have to stay focused, follow the game plan, take care of the ball and make plays."
Two QBs
OSU coach Mike Gundy has remained mum on how he plans to utilize his two quarterbacks, J.W. Walsh and Mason Rudolph. Walsh is more of a dual-threat QB than Rudolph. He leads the Big 12 in passing efficiency (203.7) and is second on the team with 285 yards rushing with a team-best 11 touchdowns. Rudolph is no slouch either. More of a pure passer, he has thrown for 3,591 yards and 21 touchdowns. Regardless of who plays more, Ole Miss linebacker DeMarquis Gates said the Rebels will be ready.
"We have to game plan for both of them," said Gates, who led the Rebels with 55 tackles this season. "One is more of a passer and one is more of a runner, so we have to lock in on whoever is in the game and play our role."
Children's hospital
Prior to practice, the Rebels stopped at the Children's Hospital in downtown New Orleans.
"The hospital visit was outstanding and eye opening," Ole Miss lineman Justin Bell said. "I feel like one of the people who touched me was the family of a little girl that was getting out of there. They touched me because they didn't care about who we were or anything like that. When they came through we just got out of their way because they were so happy their little girl was getting out of the hospital.
"That was a special moment to see that."
Future Saints?
On hand for at least the opening portion of Ole Miss' practice Wednesday was New Orleans Saints executive vice president/general manager Mickey Loomis. Even without star defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche, who is suspended for the Sugar Bowl and has already declared his intention to enter the NFL draft, the Rebels boast a number of draft prospects such as left tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver Laquon Treadwell.
One Mississippi Cowboy
The Cowboys have one Mississippian on their roster: Senior offensive lineman Colby Hegwood.
Hegwood played at Pearl River Community College after graduating from Northwest Rankin and has played sparingly across the interior of the line in three seasons at OSU.
The Cowboys started the year with a second Mississippian, former Olive Branch and East Mississippi standout Todd Mays, but the Tulsa World reported in November Mays quit the team because he "didn't want to play anymore."
Mays, who had a big role alongside Ole Miss' Chad Kelly at EMCC, is still listed on OSU's online roster.
This story was originally published December 30, 2015 at 6:14 PM with the headline "No. 16 Ole Miss anxious to clash with No. 13 Cowboys in Sugar Bowl ."