Mason Believes Plumlee Will Start For Ole Miss Against Vanderbilt
John Rhys Plumlee started the first game of his college career last Saturday against Alabama in the Rebels 59-31 loss to the Tide, it won't be his last as the true freshman showed well despite the lopsided loss.
Vanderbilt head coach Derek Mason thinks Plumlee will start for Ole Miss Saturday night when they face the Commodores at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
"I think we're gonna see Plumlee, I mean that's just me," said Mason. 'The young man played well on Saturday. In moving the other direction (to former starter Matt Corral) that's really on them, but I though he performed well against Alabama for a freshman.
"To be out there, the game looked easy for him, he performed," continued Mason. "He reminds me of Shea Patterson (former Ole Miss, current Michigan quarterback) in terms of his ability, his movement. He's got a cool, calmness about him and his guys played for him.
Against Alabama, Plumlee'stats are not necessarily impressive if you look at that alone. He was 10 of 28 for 141 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, but his command of the offense and the way he handled the game were indeed eye-catching.
The stats that should catch the eye, and will likely cause Mason and defensive coordinator Jason Tarver to lose sleep this week were Plumlee's rushing numbers versus the Tide.
Plumlee repeatedly avoided pressure and escaped the pocket while managing to rush for 109 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
"Those are all things you look at when you watch the film," concluded Mason. You know, that group, Neely, and you look at Moore, the've got talent all over the field out there.
While the quarterback is the focalpoint of the offense, as Mason explained, the Rebels do indeed have talent and those athletes will pose a difficult challenge for the Commodores on both sides of the football. The test for the Commodores will be finding a way to stop all of them.
We'll find out Saturday night at 6:30 when the Commodores and Rebels kick off in Oxford.
A 29 year veteran of radio in the Middle Tennessee area and 16 years in digital and internet media having covered the Tennessee Titans for Scout Media and TitanInsider.com before joining the Sports Illustrated family of networks.