Patrick Kutas is walking into a challenging weekend with more than one role on the table.
The Ole Miss senior right guard from Memphis, TN, earned co-offensive lineman of the week honors after the Rebels’ line turned in an outstanding showing against Missouri. In his second season with Ole Miss after transferring from Arkansas, Kutas also could be asked to handle center duties again, depending on Brycen Sanders’ status. Sanders is listed as questionable, and Kutas filled in at center last week after Sanders went down.
Kutas himself shows up on the injury report as probable, but there appears to be little concern about his availability. He practiced this week and did not sound limited in his media availability as Ole Miss gets ready for Texas.
What Kutas kept coming back to was the value of repetition for an offensive line trying to keep building on its progress.
"Obviously, there's stuff you can do to improve every single day," Kutas said. "The longer we play together and the more reps we get, the more we're just going to gel together even more."
That line of thinking matters for a Rebels offense that has already flashed real efficiency through six games and a bye. Ole Miss has allowed only five sacks, good for 10th in the nation, though the run game has been more uneven. Some of that can be traced to the absence of star running back Kewan Lacy.
Kutas knows the challenge waiting in front of him, and he didn’t sugarcoat it when talking about the Texas defense.
"They’re a really talented defense,” Kutas said. "I think it’ll be a really good matchup."
The Longhorns bring a defense ranked 29th in total scoring, giving up 17.8 points per game. Ole Miss comes in averaging 37.5 points per game, which puts the Rebels 19th nationally.
There is also a built-in weekly test in practice. Kutas pointed to Will Echoles, who gives Ole Miss a pro-level challenge every day and has become part of the team’s regular preparation.
When asked what makes Echoles such a tough block, Kutas smiled.
"[Will] is a very large human who moves very fast, he's very smart, and he's very strong," Kutas said. "All of the key attributes you need, he's maxed out in those areas."
That kind of work against Echoles has Ole Miss better prepared for a Texas front that creates problems in a hurry. The Longhorns average 7.75 tackles for loss, and even with star EDGE Colin Simmons out, they still have plenty of bodies who can disrupt a game. Ten different Texas players, from edge rushers to interior linemen, have recorded a tackle for loss this season.
However Ole Miss lines up Kutas, the mandate is clear: be physical. That is especially true after the Rebels produced their best rushing performance of the season last week. The ground game will need to follow that up against a Texas defense allowing just 106 rushing yards per game.
There is at least some evidence the Rebels can turn a strong rushing day into a big result. In the two games when Ole Miss has run for more than 160 yards, it has won by an average of 30 points. With Kutas, Kewan, and John David Baker’s play-calling in the mix, the Rebels will try to hit that mark again on Saturday.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Is Showing Texas Something Different At A Crucial Time
Arch Manning has been drawing a different kind of attention around Texas this week, and Steve Sarkisian noticed it during practice. After a rough stretch and a two-game losing streak, the Longhorns are looking for a spark from their quarterback, and Sarkisian said Manning has looked edgy in practice as the team tries to steady itself before Ole Miss.
Sarkisian sounded optimistic that Manning can turn that edge into production when it matters most. He also pointed to backup KJ Lacey as a steady presence behind the scenes, praising the freshman's solid play and coachability this season, a small but meaningful reminder that Texas is still trying to sort out its quarterback room while the pressure keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Legend Sparks SEC QB Debate With Arch Manning Shot
David Pollacks latest SEC quarterback rundown landed with some weight, especially in Texas circles, because it came with a clear endorsement of Georgias Gunner Stockton and a sharp critique of Arch Manning. Pollack, who has long had a strong feel for the leagues biggest quarterbacks, stuck with Stockton even after a rough outing, framing the Georgia signal-caller as someone he still trusts as the games get bigger and the pressure rises.
For Texas, the more pointed part of the discussion was the Manning evaluation. Pollack pointed to an underwhelming performance and issues in key games during Mannings second full season as a starter, a reminder that the scrutiny around the Longhorns quarterback is only growing. With Texas always measured against the SECs best, comments like that add another layer to the conversation about how Manning stacks up when the spotlight is brightest. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Must Face A Recruiting Miss At The Worst Time
Kewan Lacys path to this point carries a little extra sting for Texas. The Dallas native and Ole Miss running back was a three-star prospect who had long wanted to play for the Longhorns, but Steve Sarkisian and his staff never extended a scholarship offer. Now Lacy has turned into a productive piece for the Rebels, and Texas is set to see him up close in a matchup that arrives with plenty on the line for both sides.
The Longhorns meet Ole Miss on Oct. 24 in a game scheduled for ABC, and the timing could hardly be worse for Texas. Its defense is already dealing with injuries to key players, which puts even more pressure on a unit trying to hold up against an offense featuring a runner it once passed on. For Texas, it is the kind of recruiting miss that can feel much bigger when the calendar finally circles back. [Read more 🡒]