Ole Miss’ offensive line has spent plenty of time taking its lumps, but after the Rebels’ 52-17 win at Vanderbilt, Pete Golding had nothing but praise for the group.
For the first time this season, all five starting linemen earned player-of-the-game honors, a sign that the unit’s work is starting to show up in a real way. And with No.
9 Ole Miss set to face No. 13 Missouri on Saturday, that progress could matter even more for an offense that has already done plenty of damage.
“I think he's played his butt off,” Golding said of right tackle Connor Howes during his Oct. 12 press conference. “We have players of the game every week, and that's the first game this year that we came out and all five offensive linemen were the players of the game.”
Golding’s point was clear: this wasn’t about one standout performance. It was about five linemen doing their jobs together and beginning to look like a unit. He said the group is communicating better, handling assignments with more confidence and cleaning up the details that can make or break a line.
“I think they're working well together. I think they're starting to understand the scheme better,” Golding said. “We're getting better at the double teams and getting to the second level, but also from a position-blocking standpoint.”
That development has come as Ole Miss continues shaping its offensive identity under offensive coordinator John David Baker. Putting up 52 points against Vanderbilt while being able to rest Trinidad Chambliss and Kewan Lacy only added to the sense that JDB is building credibility with the offense.
Golding also credited offensive line coach John Garrison for helping push the group forward. He pointed to the line’s communication and steady improvement as reasons to feel better about where the unit is headed.
“I think Coach Garrison does a really good job with that group,” Golding said. “So I like the development. I think we're getting better and better every week, especially Connor,” adding for Howes, “The more he plays, the better he gets.”
Howes’ emergence has given Ole Miss something it needed on the right side, where the Rebels had struggled to settle things. His growth has been a major boost for a team looking for stability up front.
Golding also said another week of preparation could give Ole Miss more experienced options on the offensive line, which would give the staff added flexibility as the season moves on.
Howes wasn’t the only lineman Golding singled out. Left tackle Terez Davis drew strong praise as well, with Golding highlighting his work ethic, athleticism and the way he approaches coaching.
“Very few guys have that pro mindset and come in every day with a chip on their shoulder and go to work and take hard coaching and work extremely hard and say, 'Yes, sir,' and ask really good questions,” Golding said.
He didn’t stop there. Golding made it plain how much he values Davis’ blend of traits.
“He's nasty. He's explosive. He's got really good feet,” Golding said.
Golding also pointed to Davis’ consistency, while noting that the experience of linemen such as Patrick Kutas has helped lift the group as a whole.
The Rebels will get another test Saturday in Oxford, where Missouri arrives ranked No. 13 nationally. For Ole Miss, the goal is straightforward: keep the line trending up and carry the momentum from Vanderbilt into another SEC showdown.
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