University of Mississippi stars
by Jeff Dantzler
photo by Rob Saye
Number 4 Denzel Nkemdiche, LB
5-11, 203 RFr.
Loganville, Ga. (Grayson H.S.)
Most famous as the older brother of the
nation’s top prep prospect this year,
Robert Nkemdiche, this stalwart has
turned into one of the SEC’s top defenders
in 2012. He flies around the
field and to the ball. Nkemdiche is physical
and a sure tackler. He was the SEC
Defensive Player of the Week earlier this
year when the Rebels fell to Alabama.
Georgia basketball had a great player in
Jarvis Hayes. His brother Jonas was
very good as well. Some schools hesitated
to recruit the package deal. Same
story with South Carolina twin linebackers
Jasper (viewed as a premier player)
and Casper Brinkley. Both of those
Peach State products were All-Star caliber
players for the Gamecocks and a lot
of schools were kicking themselves.
Nkemdiche is of the top Rebels in tackles,
forced fumbles, quarterback hurries,
sacks and tackles for loss – ranking
amongst the league leaders in this category.
Number 3 Jeff Scott, TB
5-7, 170 Jr.
Miami, Fla. (Archbishop Carroll)
Whenever an offense has a quarterback
– especially one who can run it and
throw it – and a tailback who can make
big plays, they have to be respected as
a threat. Ole Miss certainly is. Along
with stellar quarterback Bo Wallace,
Jeff Scott gives the Rebels a potent
backfield punch. He’s not very big, but
Scott can really go. He’s a burner with
outstanding moves – “juke-ability.” A
product from the talent rich Miami
area, picking up Scott was a big recruiting
grab for the Rebels. An efficient
runner who can hit the homer,
Scott is amongst the league leaders in
yards per carry, taking it over six yards
per tote. He also has a 55-yard touchdown
reception this year, making defenses
respect the screen and wheel
route. A member of the All-SEC Freshman
team, Scott ranked 10th in the
league in touchdowns a year ago. He
led the Rebels in rushing as a freshman,
twice topping the century mark.
Number 14 Bo Wallace, QB
6-4, 204 Soph.
Pulaski, Tenn. (Giles Co.H.S./East Miss C.C.)
One of the impact newcomers in all of college
football, Wallace has been trigger-man
at the center of Ole Miss’s re-invigorated offense.
He’s easily the Rebels best quarterback
since Jevan Snead. Wallace is one of
those typical Southeastern Conference twoway
standouts. He can beat teams running
and passing. Ole Miss really had a hard
time scoring the last couple of years, but
now the Rebels have one of the best offenses
in the SEC. Wallace is a major reason
why. He was a record-setting
championship quarterback in the junior college
ranks and the transition to upper-echelon
SEC signal caller was a quick one.
Wallace is accurate, hitting well over 60 percent
of his passes. What makes the Rebels
doubly dangerous is that they have their
best group of play-makers since current
Steelers speedster Mike Wallace was starring
for the Rebels Cotton Bowl teams.
Donte Moncrief is Wallace’s favorite target.
The fleet wideout is one of the SEC’s top
touchdown-making receivers.
Tagged: jeff dantzler, georgia sports news, sec football, georgia football, uga football, ole miss, denzel nkemdiche, jeff scott, bo wallace
