Pete Golding doesn’t need much of a scouting report when Austin Simmons is on the other side.
That’s what makes Ole Miss’ upcoming trip to Missouri so intriguing. The Rebels are getting ready to face a quarterback they know well, and Golding has more firsthand knowledge of Simmons than most coaches ever will. He watched him closely at Ole Miss, coached around him in practice and saw enough to know the talent was always there.
“It's scary to know how good he is and how talented he is," Golding said. "Love Austin; he did an unbelievable job while he was here. He's got elite arm talent, always has, and is more athletic than you think."
Simmons and wide receiver Cayden Lee both spent multiple seasons in Oxford before ending up on the other side of this matchup. That kind of transfer-portal reality is becoming normal, and Ole Miss already dealt with a similar situation earlier in the season when it faced Lane Kiffin and LSU.
Golding said that working against Simmons in practice can still offer something useful, even with a new offense and new design in Missouri.
“There are certain things you gotta go back from a scrimmage standpoint and all those things, what affected him and what didn't affect him," Golding said. "So you know a little bit about the personality and the mentality. Different offense now, different scheme, different design and all those type of things, but I think it helps more than it hurts when you know a guys demeanor and how they think..."
Simmons began last season as Ole Miss’ starting quarterback before an injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss, and the rest is history. Since transferring to Missouri, Simmons has taken off. He has thrown for 1,434 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and only one interception this season.
That production makes him one of the toughest quarterbacks Ole Miss will see all year, even if the Rebels have the benefit of familiarity. Golding knows Simmons’ habits.
Simmons knows Golding’s defensive mindset. That adds a layer to the matchup, but it doesn’t make the job any easier when a quarterback is playing this well.
Golding said the challenge for his defense starts with keeping the same things from looking different. Ole Miss will lean on disguised coverages to try to slow down Missouri and force Simmons into hesitation. The goal is simple: make the quarterback think, make him unsure and create mistakes.
The Rebels’ defense handled Vanderbilt well enough to build some confidence, but Missouri brings a much different test. Golding’s background with Simmons gives Ole Miss a little edge in the film room, yet the Tigers’ quarterback has been sharp enough to make even familiar territory dangerous.
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The list also featured several first-time starters, a sign that more former Rebels are earning larger roles as the season settles in, even if others were inactive or on bye. It was the kind of weekly snapshot that gives Ole Miss fans plenty to monitor, because the production is spreading across the roster and the next update could bring another familiar name into the spotlight. [Read more 🡒]