John Saunders Jr. Raves on Pete Golding's Ole Miss Defense, Playmakers in Secondary

Saunders was made available to the media on Thursday after practice.

OXFORD, Miss. -- John Saunders Jr. is becoming adjusted to defensive coordinator Pete Golding's scheme with the Ole Miss Rebels, but it's a growing process that he feels confident in.

As a transfer from Miami (Ohio), Saunders has transitioned during his time at Ole Miss on the field as well. Originally more of a cornerback, he has now adjusted to a role at safety. He and the playmakers around him have adapted well to this learning curve.

"I feel great, man," Saunders said. "We've just been learning so much. Putting in different schemes every day. We're so versatile, and I think that allows you to be able to make more plays than a simple defense."

With so many new faces in a new scheme on defense, learning the playbook is just the first step. The defenders also have to become accustomed with one another along the way.

"We're starting to get a feel for playing with each other," Saunders said, "and we do a lot of rotating, allowing us to play with a bunch of different faces. We've all got a job to do. When you learn everybody's job around you, it makes your job way easier. Knowing everybody's assignment makes it a lot easier for me."

Reportedly, Ole Miss' offense "won" the team's closed scrimmage last weekend, but that is not a big setback in the mind of the defenders, including Saunders.

"I think we did good," Saunders said. "We're just trying to tune up everything. No missed assignments, and just do our job every play. If we do our job, we're going to be a force to be reckoned with."

Saunders and the Rebels open their season on Sept. 2 at home against the Mercer Bears. That game is slated for a 1 p.m. CT kickoff at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and will be broadcast on SEC Network+. 

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