For the first time since 2009, Ole Miss is entering the Egg Bowl coming off a win. The Rebels played well in a 38-17 drubbing of LSU, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and it was in part due to a pair of sophomores, Marquis Haynes and DeMarquis Gates.
Gates, who earned SEC defensive player of the week, led the Rebels in tackles with 14, along with a pass break up and a quarterback hurry.
“DeMarquis has matured some this year, which needed to occur, and I think he continues to do that, both as a player and as a young man,” Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze said.