The Grove Report

Ole Miss Receivers Look Primed and Ready After Electric Grove Bowl

Despite losing veteran talent to the NFL Draft, the Ole Miss Rebels appear to have successfully reloaded their receiver room after putting on a show in Saturday's Grove Bowl.

Ben King

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels put on a show on Saturday in the 2023 Grove Bowl with the red team narrowly defeating the blue team 53-52. 

All eyes were on the ongoing quarterback competition, and while a starter was not determined on Saturday, there is no question now that whoever wins the job will have a surplus of talented weapons at his disposal.

Both teams totaled 802 receiving yards in Ole Miss' spring game thanks to a combined effort from returning players and new faces. 

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin admitted after the game that the defense was "watered down" but regardless, the reloaded receiver room appears to have not lost a step after its two best wideouts from last fall declared for the 2023 NFL Draft, in Jonathan Mingo and Malik Heath.

Those are big shoes to fill, but the Rebels have plenty of guys ready to step up.

Senior wideout Jordan Watkins made his case for No. 1 receiver on Saturday after leading both teams in receiving with 149 yards and one touchdown on eight receptions.

Tight end Michael Trigg is still a matchup nightmare and led the blue team in receiving with nine receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown. Trigg also showed great chemistry with quarterback Spencer Sanders, operating as his security blanket for the blue team.

Sophomore JJ Henry made a splash in his second Grove Bowl finishing third on the team in receiving with seven receptions and 108 receiving yards. 

Injuries restricted his 2022 season, but senior wideout Jalen Knox had his welcome-back moment on Saturday hauling in three catches for 57 yards and one touchdown. Knox.

Former Texas A&M Aggies receiver Chris Marshall turned heads in his first Grove Bowl recording 89 receiving yards on four receptions and showed fans why he was one of the most sought-after players in the NCAA Transfer Portal this offseason.

Quarterback Jaxson Dart spoke highly of Marshall and his impact on the team in his postgame presser.

"It's been big, especially with Chris being able to come in and perform the way that he has in his first spring in college," Dart told reporters. "He didn't get to Texas A&M until last summer so this was his first spring. Plus being in a new system, which isn't an easy system to learn, it's been cool to watch him flourish and it shows how talented and invested he is."

Dart also had positive things to say about the returning receivers.

"JJ [Henry] and [Michael] Trigg, this is their second year in this offense and I think we all expected them to take huge leaps," Dart said. "They've played great all spring as well."

You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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Ben King
BEN KING

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