Lane Kiffin hopeful one of Ole Miss’ top transfers plays this week at Kentucky, thinks he will be a ‘really good player’
No. 14 Ole Miss defensive back Jaylon Braxton did not dress Saturday in the 63-7 win over Georgia State. But, head coach Lane Kiffin spoke with the media Monday and is “hopeful” he can play this week when the Rebels travel to Kentucky.“That was a medical situation why he didn’t play. We’re hopeful he plays […]
No. 14 Ole Miss defensive back Jaylon Braxton did not dress Saturday in the 63-7 win over Georgia State. But, head coach Lane Kiffin spoke with the media Monday and is “hopeful” he can play this week when the Rebels travel to Kentucky.
“That was a medical situation why he didn’t play. We’re hopeful he plays this week,” Kiffin said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player here. He practiced throughout the offseason at times really well.”
Now, before you get excited and think Braxton will be on the field at Kroger Field this weekend, the “hopeful” response is a standard injury response from Kiffin. He isn’t going to give out specifics when it comes to injuries. But, the former Arkansas cornerback seems like he is trending to finally making his debut.
Ole Miss lost quite a bit from the secondary. Jaylon Braxton was signed to help alleviate this issue.
“It’s exciting to have someone that can cover and has played corner and can play safety too. Hopefully he’ll be back out this week.”
After a 2023 All-SEC Freshman campaign, the 6-foot, 190 pound prospect played in just two games in 2024. But, after recovering from an injury, he will be counted on in 2025 to anchor the Rebel secondary. Rivals’ Charles Power thinks he can step right in and help Ole Miss replace second-round pick Trey Amos.
“Two-way player who has a well-rounded skill set as a cornerback prospect. Has one of the better combinations of speed and ball skills among the 2023 cornerback group,” Power said. “Measured 5-foot-11.5, 167 pounds with a 6-foot-1.5 wing-span prior to his senior season. Tests as a good athlete in the combine setting, running an electronically-timed 4.62 second 40-yard dash.”
Jaylon Braxton had injury problems at Arkansas. But, when he was healthy, he was among the best.
Prior to the injury this season, Braxton graded out at 77.9 overall and 80.7 in coverage last season, per Pro Football Focus. Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding agrees with PFF and is excited to get Braxton on the field.
“There’s going to be some games, if he’s healthy, he’s going to be at corner,” Golding said. “There’s going to be some games, if he’s healthy, he’s at free. He’s got an elite skillset and a really high football IQ. So, he’s just getting back now to where he’s healthy. It’s good to get him out there for a couple snaps because the only thing we haven’t seen is him do it live here yet. We love what we saw on tape. We love what he’s wired with. It gives us a lot of versatility with some length and some speed. He’ll definitely be a move piece for us.”
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In the Ole Miss Rebels’ 63-7 victory Saturday, transfer running back Kewan Lacy made his debut in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium a three-touchdown performance. The Missouri transfer ran for 108 yards on 16 carries – albeit against a lesser opponent – giving Lane Kiffin’s offense what it was missing in 2024. But Lacy is all of a […]
