Kewan Lacy Says He’s “Perfectly Fine” Ahead of Sugar Bowl Clash with Georgia
NEW ORLEANS - Ole Miss is heading into Thursday night’s Sugar Bowl with a familiar opponent and a clear mindset: bring the fire early, and don’t let up. And for the Rebels, the good news is their star tailback, Kewan Lacy, is ready to roll.
After leaving the College Football Playoff win over Tulane with what was initially a concerning shoulder injury, Lacy put any lingering doubts to rest during Sugar Bowl media day.
“It was just a little stinger in my AC joint,” Lacy said Tuesday from the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel. “I’m perfectly fine. I’m ready to go.”
That’s music to the ears of Ole Miss fans. Lacy has been the engine of the Rebels’ ground game all season, racking up 1,366 rushing yards - good for second in the SEC and eighth nationally. At 5-foot-11 and 200 pounds, the sophomore out of Dallas has been as consistent as they come, even when defenses load the box to try and contain him.
And Georgia? They’ve already seen him once this season.
Back in October, the Bulldogs came out on top in a 43-35 shootout in Athens. Georgia’s defense - ranked No. 4 in the country against the run - held Lacy to just 31 yards on 12 carries. But even in that limited yardage, Lacy still found the end zone twice, showcasing his nose for the goal line and ability to make the most out of tight windows.
“You can tell when there’s extra defenders in a box,” Lacy said, acknowledging how Georgia keyed in on him. “But that’s nothing new. Throughout the season, there’s been a lot of teams that have done that.”
That’s the kind of mindset that’s helped Lacy thrive in the SEC - aware of the challenge, unfazed by it.
Now, as the Rebels prepare to face Georgia again - this time under the lights at Caesar’s Superdome - Lacy knows it’s going to take more than just talent to walk away with a win.
“We’ve got to come out with the right mentality,” he said. “Come out there and just come out hot, come out starting fires.”
That urgency is echoed by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who also made an impact on the ground in the teams’ first meeting, rushing for 42 yards and two scores on nine carries. Chambliss knows exactly what kind of defense they’re up against.
“Yeah, it’s Georgia,” he said. “They’re going to have huge guys. They’re going to have five stars, they’re going to have four stars that are hungry.”
And he’s not wrong. Georgia’s defensive line is as deep and NFL-ready as any in the country - a unit built to dominate the trenches and disrupt rhythm before it starts.
But Ole Miss isn’t backing down. With Lacy healthy and determined, and Chambliss embracing the challenge, the Rebels are stepping into the Sugar Bowl with confidence - and a clear plan to ignite early.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Thursday night. And if Lacy’s words are any indication, Ole Miss plans to bring the heat from the jump.