PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Jordan Ta’amu was 31-for-46 passing for 379 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions against the Gamecocks. Ta’amu turned an ankle during the game and missed a three-and-out series in the dismal fourth quarter. He rushed for 66 yards in the game, including a 17-yard touchdown. The Gamecocks also sacked him three times, all in the fourth quarter and two coming on the possession just after they had regained the lead. Ta’amu’s health will be a story line to watch this week.
–QB Matt Corral, a four-star freshman signee, took over when Ta’amu was out. It was the first SEC action for Corral, whom coaches are hoping to redshirt. They’ll accomplish that goal if he plays in no more than one game, but he’ll be on the field any time Ta’amu isn’t. Corral has a 31-yard pass and a 61-yard touchdown run this season. He was 0-for-2 passing against the Gamecocks.
–WR Elijah Moore, a four-star freshman, was able to get on the field at the slot receiver because of A.J. Brown’s move to the outside. Moore responded with 11 catches for 129 yards, including one nifty grab on a crossing pattern after the ball had been tipped at the line of scrimmage.
–DE Qaadir Sheppard tied a career-high with six tackles including a half sack, a tackle for loss and two pressures. There wasn’t a lot to shout about defensively, but the Rebels did lessen those wide-open receivers when they got more pressure on South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley later in the game.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas A&M leads the series 7-3 and won 31-24 in Oxford last season. Ole Miss has won on its last two trips to College Station, including 35-20 in 2014 and 29-28 in 2016. The 2016 game was the highlight of the brief Ole Miss career of quarterback Shea Patterson, who transferred to Michigan after NCAA sanctions were announced. It was the college debut for Patterson, then a true freshman starting in place of the injured Chad Kelly.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “On deep balls and the guy’s right there, you’ve got to make a play. You have to make the tackle, you have to do the little things. Some of it is technique, it’s not all on the players. Some of it is attention to detail. As a coach, you have to make sure they are giving everything they’ve got, doing everything they can and leaving it all on the field. That’s No. 1. Then No. 2 is attention to detail.” — Ole Miss coach Matt Luke