LSU Football: Three Ole Miss Rebels To Watch In Week 5 Matchup

Brian Kelly and Co. hit the road to take on No. 20 Ole Miss is another SEC showdown.

No. 13 LSU will hit the road to Oxford in Week 5 with a matchup against No. 20 Ole Miss waiting for them.

After back-to-back SEC victories over Mississippi State and Arkansas, the Tigers are trending in the right direction with a big-time test this weekend against Lane Kiffin and the Rebels.

A potent offensive attack, Kiffin is a mastermind when his program has the ball in their hands and will look to exploit LSU’s secondary all he can.

It’ll be a primetime matchup between two of the top programs in the SEC with several All-Conference caliber players lining up on both sides of the ball.

Here are three Ole Miss players to monitor come Saturday evening:

Jaxson Dart: Quarterback

Why not start with Ole Miss signal-caller Jaxson Dart? A player whose numbers may not jump off of the page, the second-year Rebel is quietly stringing together a solid season for Kiffin’s offense.

Dart is up to 1,096 yards on 65-of-103 passing attempts with seven touchdowns and two interceptions through four weeks. 

It’s been a work in progress after being sacked 10 times on the season already, but Dart continues utilizing his receiving options, namely red zone threat Tre Harris and the consistent weapon Jordan Watkins.

Harris is up to five touchdowns on the season with just eight total receptions. He’s become a reliable target for Dart and he’s using him to the best of his abilities. 

As for Watkins, he’s been a key piece to this offense with 24 receptions for 347 yards and a touchdown of his own.

Kiffin will look to exploit LSU’s shaky secondary on Saturday with this defense having no room for error against an offensive guru at the helm.

Quinshon Judkins: Running Back

When discussing the Rebels’ offense, Judkins’ name must always be in the conversation, even if this season hasn’t been what many anticipated through four weeks. 

The sophomore back is coming off of an eye-opening first season in Oxford with the chance to take his game to the next level in year two. It’s been a slow start, but Judkins has the tools to arrive in the blink of an eye.

The dynamic back has 201 rushing yards on 57 carries with four touchdowns on the season but has also become effective in the passing game with eight receptions for 80 yards. For LSU, it’s imperative this defense monitors Judkins on every snap.

The rushing attack has been a challenge for the Rebels so far with Dart being the leader in yards and yards per carry. When facing an LSU front seven that has been effective through two SEC contests, it’s key the Tigers carry their momentum into Oxford.

Trey Washington: Safety

It’s no secret LSU boasts two of the top wideouts in the SEC with both Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. shining through four weeks, but this week could present a different challenge. 

Ole Miss safety Trey Washington has arrived for the Rebels, and after earning an SEC Defensive Player of the Week honor this season, he’ll look to continue shining in the defensive backfield against the Tigers.

Washington leads the Rebels in tackles (25) and is 12th in the SEC in total tackles as well. He’s become a key piece to this defense and Jayden Daniels will have to monitor the dynamic defensive back all night.

Another player to monitor for Ole Miss will be Suntarine Perkins. The Rebels have their own Perkins who can shine when rushing the passer and the freshman has been special this season for Kiffin’s defense.

The youngster leads Ole Miss in sacks (3) and has become a force in getting in the backfield to disrupt opponents through the first few weeks. 

Looking ahead, LSU’s offensive line will have to keep tabs on Perkins given his special ability in getting to the quarterback while also playing a pivotal role in slowing down the run game.