The University of Mississippi Athletics
What They're Saying in 2015
12/15/2015 | Football, Blog
Ole Miss Football is one of five programs in the nation to make back-to-back New Year's Six bowl games and will play in the Allstate Sugar Bowl (Jan. 1, 2016) for the first time since 1970. The Rebels are the only team to defeat Alabama in the regular season each of the last two years.
With such success comes a bevy of media coverage from the Southeastern region and the nation.
Here are some snippets of the top comments on Ole Miss Football by a variety of media members, coaches and personalities in 2015.
What They're Saying about the Ole Miss Rebels in 2015
"It's already going to be exciting just because it's New Year's Eve, and New Year's is always great in New Orleans. But now to have my Rebels playing for the Sugar Bowl makes it even more special. I think that we'll see a heavy amount of red in that stadium. You're probably talking about 80 percent of Ole Miss fans just from the ticket sales and the people that plan on coming down."
-Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 12)
"We've been waiting 46 years so Livvy, and I and Cooper, all the Mannings, Eli ... well, I haven't asked Peyton yet, but we're all pretty doggone excited ... I'm so happy for the Ole Miss family. A lot of my teammates, we're kind of feeling old when people say it's been 46 years since Ole Miss was in the Sugar Bowl."
-Archie Manning, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 10)
"I'm proud of Chad (Kelly) for the way he's handled everything bouncing back from a hiccup or two. He's done it right. He's become a better football player and a better person, a good leader. He's provided a lot of inspiration, especially late in the year."
-Archie Manning, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 10)
"He's gotten better as the year has gone on. He's one of those players you want to watch at quarterback because he's not one of those that's just an athletic lift, he's an emotional lift to the team as well. The way that he plays the game, the ferocity he plays the game with, you see him diving for end zones and making great throws. He has excellent wide receivers on the outside and Oklahoma State's defense hasn't been as good as advertised."
-Robert Smith, ESPN - on Chad Kelly (Dec. 6)
"I like the way they played this year. They had their ups and downs, but they're very physical at the point of attack. I want to see how that Big 12 offense goes against the SEC defense."
-Mark May, ESPN - on Ole Miss' front seven (Dec. 6)
"The people I talked to said Ole Miss' players were as good as any in the SEC. The question was if (Chad) Kelly was going to be able to step up and play - he did, and he answered the bell."
-Mack Brown, ESPN (Dec. 6)
"I think what (Chad Kelly) does outside of their offense is where he presents problems. He brings improvisational skills."
-Dan Mullen, Mississippi State Head Coach (Nov. 23)
"They're a good team. They're a good defense. They play hard. They have some big guys. They've got some NFL prospects on that defense."
-Dak Prescott, Mississippi State Quarterback (Nov. 23)
"Chad Kelly is an NFL quarterback and one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation."
-Booger McFarland, SEC Network (Nov. 22)
"(Chad Kelly) might have the best arm in this conference. He can attack any part of the field."
-Gary Danielson, CBS Sports (Nov. 21)
"I think he's one of the best offensive linemen in the country. He's excellent at protecting the passer, and I think he's been very good in the run game. All the qualities you look for in an offensive lineman, he certainly shows those characteristics."
-Arkansas Defensive Coordinator Robb Smith - on Laremy Tunsil (Nov. 3)
"You can tell they're a veteran football team by the way they've handled their composure this season. To be 7-2 and control your own destiny in this league says something about who they are."
-Bret Bielema, Arkansas Head Coach (Nov. 2)
"Ole Miss is playing really, really well. They're quarterback plays extremely well, when he's hot they're hot."
-Bret Bielema, Arkansas Head Coach (Nov. 2)
"In the Auburn game last year, Laquon Treadwell suffered that horrific injury. On Saturday, he caught the game-clinching touchdown pass against the Tigers. Karma, baby. The Rebels SEC title dream is still alive."
-Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports (Nov. 2)
"You wondered if Treadwell, who broke his leg and dislocated his ankle, would ever be the same and he's not. He may be even better."
-John Saunders, ESPN Sports Reporters (Nov. 1)
"He might be the best player in college football."
-Dave Pasch, ESPN - on Laremy Tunsil (Oct. 31)
"Offensively they have weapons and a quarterback that can get them all over the field in many different ways. Been putting up lots of points and you can see why on tape."
-Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M Head Coach (Oct. 20)
"Obviously Treadwell is healthy and a big playmaker for them. He's very explosive. They have plenty of guys on the outside that can exploit you if you're not in the right spot."
-Justin Fuente, Memphis Head Coach (Oct. 12)
"Hugh Freeze knew he was taking a chance with (Chad) Kelly, but so far everything is coming up aces for both of them in Oxford. He's a very confident quarterback. He has confidence in his arm and arguably the best wide receiver group in all of college football."
-Todd Blackledge, ESPN (Oct. 3)
"Robert Nkemdiche is the best player in the SEC. He looks like Ndamukong Suh."
-Mike Greenberg, ESPN (Sept. 21)
"It's almost like this is an expectation. There's a different vibe from Ole Miss with Hugh Freeze now that he's been here and been able to establish himself with some recruiting classes. They came in here expecting to win ... This isn't just 'wow they just beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa,' this kind of win brings this football team together and they become a serious contender in the west of the SEC."
-Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN (Sept. 19)
"Chad Kelly was playing in his first SEC game, but it was hard to tell. The nephew of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly showcased a powerful arm and no fear in throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns - with zero interceptions."
Pat Forde, Yahoo! Sports (Sept. 19)
"I thought they played a really good game and have a really good team. I think they deserved to win this game, and they outplayed us."
-Nick Saban, Alabama Head Coach (Sept. 19)
"This kid (Robert) Nkemdiche for Ole Miss is a beast. Alabama can't do anything with him. Don't know for sure, but he's looking like a Top-2 pick"
-Stephen A. Smith, ESPN (Sept. 19)
"To me all eyes are on the most intriguing player this week in college football, Chad Kelly, the Ole Miss quarterback. He has a huge arm and he's got moxie to him, but we know he had some off the field issues. This is a road start in a really tough place to play against arguably the deepest and most talented defensive line in the country, and that's a tall order. We'll see how he manages things."
-Bruce Feldman, Fox Sports (Sept. 15)
"Last year everybody got over the fact that (Ole Miss) beat Alabama, but if they do it again this year the conversation needs to start about where Hugh Freeze is taking this program."
-Marcus Spears, SEC Network (Sept. 14)
"Kelly has been great for Ole Miss. They have looked better than anyone in the SEC so far as a total team. Here comes 'Bama."
-Booger McFarland, SEC Network (Sept. 13)
"You see All-Americans all over the field. They have excellent players who are very well coached and they're very explosive. Both sides of the ball have tremendous speed."
-Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State Head Coach (Sept. 7)
"Ole Miss just threw a TD to Robert Nkemdiche which should be banned for the sake of opposing defenses. My goodness that was frightening."
-Peter Burns, SEC Network (Sept. 5)
"Lack of confidence is not in Chad Kelly's profile. Kid is slinging it early for Ole Miss."
-Peter Burns, SEC Network (Sept. 5)
"When Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche scores, it's not really fair to call it a "fat-guy" touchdown. The 296-pound junior is mostly muscle, which was evident on his 31-yard touchdown on a swing pass in the No. 17 Rebels' 76-3 blowout of FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin."
-Mark Schlabach, ESPN (Sept. 5)
With such success comes a bevy of media coverage from the Southeastern region and the nation.
Here are some snippets of the top comments on Ole Miss Football by a variety of media members, coaches and personalities in 2015.
What They're Saying about the Ole Miss Rebels in 2015
"It's already going to be exciting just because it's New Year's Eve, and New Year's is always great in New Orleans. But now to have my Rebels playing for the Sugar Bowl makes it even more special. I think that we'll see a heavy amount of red in that stadium. You're probably talking about 80 percent of Ole Miss fans just from the ticket sales and the people that plan on coming down."
-Deuce McAllister, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 12)
"We've been waiting 46 years so Livvy, and I and Cooper, all the Mannings, Eli ... well, I haven't asked Peyton yet, but we're all pretty doggone excited ... I'm so happy for the Ole Miss family. A lot of my teammates, we're kind of feeling old when people say it's been 46 years since Ole Miss was in the Sugar Bowl."
-Archie Manning, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 10)
"I'm proud of Chad (Kelly) for the way he's handled everything bouncing back from a hiccup or two. He's done it right. He's become a better football player and a better person, a good leader. He's provided a lot of inspiration, especially late in the year."
-Archie Manning, Ole Miss legend (Dec. 10)
"He's gotten better as the year has gone on. He's one of those players you want to watch at quarterback because he's not one of those that's just an athletic lift, he's an emotional lift to the team as well. The way that he plays the game, the ferocity he plays the game with, you see him diving for end zones and making great throws. He has excellent wide receivers on the outside and Oklahoma State's defense hasn't been as good as advertised."
-Robert Smith, ESPN - on Chad Kelly (Dec. 6)
"I like the way they played this year. They had their ups and downs, but they're very physical at the point of attack. I want to see how that Big 12 offense goes against the SEC defense."
-Mark May, ESPN - on Ole Miss' front seven (Dec. 6)
"The people I talked to said Ole Miss' players were as good as any in the SEC. The question was if (Chad) Kelly was going to be able to step up and play - he did, and he answered the bell."
-Mack Brown, ESPN (Dec. 6)
"I think what (Chad Kelly) does outside of their offense is where he presents problems. He brings improvisational skills."
-Dan Mullen, Mississippi State Head Coach (Nov. 23)
"They're a good team. They're a good defense. They play hard. They have some big guys. They've got some NFL prospects on that defense."
-Dak Prescott, Mississippi State Quarterback (Nov. 23)
"Chad Kelly is an NFL quarterback and one of the top dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation."
-Booger McFarland, SEC Network (Nov. 22)
"(Chad Kelly) might have the best arm in this conference. He can attack any part of the field."
-Gary Danielson, CBS Sports (Nov. 21)
"I think he's one of the best offensive linemen in the country. He's excellent at protecting the passer, and I think he's been very good in the run game. All the qualities you look for in an offensive lineman, he certainly shows those characteristics."
-Arkansas Defensive Coordinator Robb Smith - on Laremy Tunsil (Nov. 3)
"You can tell they're a veteran football team by the way they've handled their composure this season. To be 7-2 and control your own destiny in this league says something about who they are."
-Bret Bielema, Arkansas Head Coach (Nov. 2)
"Ole Miss is playing really, really well. They're quarterback plays extremely well, when he's hot they're hot."
-Bret Bielema, Arkansas Head Coach (Nov. 2)
"In the Auburn game last year, Laquon Treadwell suffered that horrific injury. On Saturday, he caught the game-clinching touchdown pass against the Tigers. Karma, baby. The Rebels SEC title dream is still alive."
-Dennis Dodd, CBS Sports (Nov. 2)
"You wondered if Treadwell, who broke his leg and dislocated his ankle, would ever be the same and he's not. He may be even better."
-John Saunders, ESPN Sports Reporters (Nov. 1)
"He might be the best player in college football."
-Dave Pasch, ESPN - on Laremy Tunsil (Oct. 31)
"Offensively they have weapons and a quarterback that can get them all over the field in many different ways. Been putting up lots of points and you can see why on tape."
-Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M Head Coach (Oct. 20)
"Obviously Treadwell is healthy and a big playmaker for them. He's very explosive. They have plenty of guys on the outside that can exploit you if you're not in the right spot."
-Justin Fuente, Memphis Head Coach (Oct. 12)
"Hugh Freeze knew he was taking a chance with (Chad) Kelly, but so far everything is coming up aces for both of them in Oxford. He's a very confident quarterback. He has confidence in his arm and arguably the best wide receiver group in all of college football."
-Todd Blackledge, ESPN (Oct. 3)
"Robert Nkemdiche is the best player in the SEC. He looks like Ndamukong Suh."
-Mike Greenberg, ESPN (Sept. 21)
"It's almost like this is an expectation. There's a different vibe from Ole Miss with Hugh Freeze now that he's been here and been able to establish himself with some recruiting classes. They came in here expecting to win ... This isn't just 'wow they just beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa,' this kind of win brings this football team together and they become a serious contender in the west of the SEC."
-Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN (Sept. 19)
"Chad Kelly was playing in his first SEC game, but it was hard to tell. The nephew of Hall of Famer Jim Kelly showcased a powerful arm and no fear in throwing for 341 yards and three touchdowns - with zero interceptions."
Pat Forde, Yahoo! Sports (Sept. 19)
"I thought they played a really good game and have a really good team. I think they deserved to win this game, and they outplayed us."
-Nick Saban, Alabama Head Coach (Sept. 19)
"This kid (Robert) Nkemdiche for Ole Miss is a beast. Alabama can't do anything with him. Don't know for sure, but he's looking like a Top-2 pick"
-Stephen A. Smith, ESPN (Sept. 19)
"To me all eyes are on the most intriguing player this week in college football, Chad Kelly, the Ole Miss quarterback. He has a huge arm and he's got moxie to him, but we know he had some off the field issues. This is a road start in a really tough place to play against arguably the deepest and most talented defensive line in the country, and that's a tall order. We'll see how he manages things."
-Bruce Feldman, Fox Sports (Sept. 15)
"Last year everybody got over the fact that (Ole Miss) beat Alabama, but if they do it again this year the conversation needs to start about where Hugh Freeze is taking this program."
-Marcus Spears, SEC Network (Sept. 14)
"Kelly has been great for Ole Miss. They have looked better than anyone in the SEC so far as a total team. Here comes 'Bama."
-Booger McFarland, SEC Network (Sept. 13)
"You see All-Americans all over the field. They have excellent players who are very well coached and they're very explosive. Both sides of the ball have tremendous speed."
-Tim DeRuyter, Fresno State Head Coach (Sept. 7)
"Ole Miss just threw a TD to Robert Nkemdiche which should be banned for the sake of opposing defenses. My goodness that was frightening."
-Peter Burns, SEC Network (Sept. 5)
"Lack of confidence is not in Chad Kelly's profile. Kid is slinging it early for Ole Miss."
-Peter Burns, SEC Network (Sept. 5)
"When Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche scores, it's not really fair to call it a "fat-guy" touchdown. The 296-pound junior is mostly muscle, which was evident on his 31-yard touchdown on a swing pass in the No. 17 Rebels' 76-3 blowout of FCS opponent Tennessee-Martin."
-Mark Schlabach, ESPN (Sept. 5)
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ FootballThe Season: Kentucky (2025)
Wednesday, September 10
PRESSER | Jaden Yates - Week 3 at Arkansas (09-09-25)
Tuesday, September 09
PRESSER | Kewan Lacy - Week 3 at Arkansas (09-09-25)
Tuesday, September 09
PRESSER | Deuce Alexander - Week 3 vs. Arkansas (09-09-25)
Tuesday, September 09