Ole Miss vs Mississippi State Week 13: Defensive Players to Watch

The Ole Miss Rebels finish the regular season with a home matchup against in-state rivals Mississippi State.

The Ole Miss Rebels wrap up the regular season on Nov. 23 against Mississippi State at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The Bulldogs will be starting a new era for 2023 as Zach Arnett begins his first season at the helm as head coach.

Arnett makes the transition from defensive coordinator to head coach and is helped by the return of quarterback Will Rogers and his aggressive and experienced defense. The offense could see some growing pains since they're transitioning from Mike Leach's Air Raid style to a more balanced attack.

The Bulldogs are returning a pair of 100-tackle linebackers from a season ago. The unit was 40th and 62nd in scoring and total defense, respectively, under then-defensive coordinator Arnett.

With Arnett promoted to the head coaching position, the Bulldogs elevated linebackers coach Matt Brock to the defensive coordinator position for the 2023 season. Brock did pretty well in his first play-calling assignment, holding the Illinois Fighting Illini to 10 points in a ReliaQuest Bowl victory.

Here are the three players the Rebels will need to circle in the offensive meetings before they face Mississippi State on Nov. 23 in Oxford.

LB Jett Johnson

Johnson led Mississippi State in tackles last season, bringing down 115 would-be ball-carriers in 2022 which ranked top 25 in the nation. The Tupelo, MS. native burst onto the scene in 2021 with 86 tackles, following that up with his career-best mark a year ago.

Against Ole Miss last year, Johnson had 10 tackles with one for loss. The seasoned veteran is entering his sixth season in college football, and the Rebels will need to key in on No. 44 every play.

LB Nathaniel Watson

Johnson's cohort in the Bulldogs' defensive backfield was right on his heels with 113 tackles last season. However, Watson was dialed up in some of the Bulldogs' blitz packages with six sacks, which is the most of any returning Mississippi State defender.

The 2023 Bronco Nagurski Watch List honoree had 12 tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup, and two quarterback hits.

Compared to his 17-tackle performance against Kentucky, Watson was relatively quiet against the Aggies with six tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.

CB Decamerion Richardson

Texas A&M has receivers in Evan Stewart, Ainias Smith, Noah Thomas, and Moose Muhammad III, but Mississippi State has a good cover corner in Decamerion Richardson.

Richardson had 10 tackles against the Rebels in the regular season finale in 2022. His 85 tackles on the year were the most by a cornerback in the SEC a season ago. In coverage, he broke up three passes.

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