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

The Ole Miss Rebels wrap up the regular season on Thanksgiving Day against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium.

The Rebels wrap up the regular season on Thanksgiving Day against Mississippi State at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs are in a bit of disarray after the firing of first-year head coach Zach Arnett last week, while the team is mired in a 5-6 season with just one SEC win under its belt.

Arnett made the transition from defensive coordinator to head coach after the death of Mike Leach, but things never really clicked. Quarterback Will Rogers dealt with injuries all season, hampering the offense, and we never saw the aggressive and experienced defense. 

Jett Johnson

Greg Knox took over as interim head coach - his second stint as such - and kept his perfect record intact after a 41-20 win over in-state rival Southern Miss on Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium. He went 1-0 in the role after Dan Mullen’s departure in 2017 and kept his winning percentage at 1.000 on Saturday.

Now that we have reached the final week of the college football regular season, it is almost time for the annual meeting between Ole Miss and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The Rebels are on the cusp of achieving program history following the win over ULM, all they have to do is take down their struggling in-state rival on the road.

Defensive Leaders

Tackles: LB Jett Johnson - Sr

2023 stats: 117 total tackles, 45 solo, six sacks, three interceptions, one pass defended, and two forced fumbles.

Interceptions: S Shawn Preston Jr - Sr

2023 stats: Tied for the team lead with three interceptions, along with 51 total tackles, 23 solo, one pass defended and two forced fumbles.

Sacks: LB Nathaniel Watson - Sr

2023 stats: 10 sacks, 116 total tackles, 33 solo, one interception, two forced fumbles, and two passes defended.