Mississippi Scoreboard highlights a Mississippian or someone with Mississippi ties who plays or coaches SEC football at Ole Miss, another at Mississippi State and another at an out-of-state SEC school each week.
By Robert Wilson
HATTIESBURG HIGH ALUMNUS AND OLE MISS RUNNING BACK SNOOP CONNER LEADS SEC WITH NINE RUSHING TDS
Hattiesburg High alumnus and Ole Miss junior running back Jarod “Snoop” Conner’s nickname was given to him by his mom, Michelle, who named Conner Snoopy in honor of the lovable dog on the Peanut cartoons.
Conner, who dropped the y in Snoopy when he got older, could be nicknamed TD these days. Because Conner has more rushing touchdowns than any other player in the SEC.
The 5-foot-10, 220-pound Conner leads the SEC with nine touchdowns and ranks No. 9 in the nation and Conner doesn’t even start. He was listed as the third running back behind Jerrion Ealy and Henry Parrish Jr. on the last week’s depth chart against Tennessee. Conner has 53 carries for 271 yards, including 12 for 110 and three TDs in Ole Miss’ 52-21 victory over Arkansas. He had two 1-yard TDs in the first half of Ole Miss’ 31-26 victory over Tennessee.
Conner has 22 career TDs, tied for fourth best in school history, and can add to that total when No. 12 Ole Miss, 5-1, plays host to LSU, 4-3, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS.
Conner is chasing big names in Ole Miss history. Kayo Dottley (1949), Archie Manning (1969), Deuce McAllister (2000) and Brandon Bolden (2010) are tied for the school record with 14 rushing TDs in a single season. McAllister has the school record with 37 career rushing TDs. Bolden is second with 27 and Manning third with 25. John Fourcade (1978-81) and Joe Gunn (1998-2001) are tied with Conner with 22.
Conner finished third on the team with 421 yards and eight TDs last season as a sophomore. He gained 512 yards and scored five TDs as a freshman.
Conner, the No. 2 running back prospect in Mississippi as a senior at Hattiesburg High by 247 Sports, was the MVP in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game with 112 yards and two TDs. A quarterback in high school, Conner passed for 2,324 yards and 245 TDs and ran for 1,622 yards and 27 TDs as senior.
GRENADA HIGH ALUMNUS AND MSU CORNERBACK EMMANUEL FORBES LEADS ACTIVE PLAYERS IN SEC IN CAREER INTERCEPTIONS
Grenada High alumnus and Mississippi State sophomore cornerback Emmanuel Forbes doesn’t see the ball come his away as often this season. That’s because Forbes had one of the best seasons for a defensive back in school history last year as a true freshman.
The 6-foot, 180-pound Forbes was named a freshman All-American after returning three interceptions for touchdowns to lead the country in that category and set school records for most interceptions for a touchdown in a season and most interception yards (183) in a season.
Forbes is the SEC’s active career leader with seven interceptions and tied for 18th in the country. He is tied for second in the country in interceptions since his first freshman season. Forbes is the country’s active career leader with three interception returns for touchdowns. He is tied for the career school record with three interception returns for touchdowns with Johnthan Banks (2009-2012), Corey Bloomfield (2009-2012) and Derek Pegues (2005-2008). Forbes set a MSU and Armed Forces Bowl record with a 90-yard TD interception return.
Forbes led the SEC and No. 3 in the nation with five interceptions last season.
Banks and Walt Harris (1992-95) are tied with the school record with 16 career interceptions.
Forbes has had a solid season, with 31 tackles (sixth best on the team), 3.5 tackles for loss (tied for first), 2 interceptions (tied for first), 2 pass breakups, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble.
Forbes was rated the No. 3 player in Mississippi as a senior at Grenada High. He intercepted eight passes, two for TDs, with 12 pass breakups and 49 tackles as a senior. Forbes also caught 31 passes for 499 yards and seven TDs.
MSU, 3-3, plays at Vanderbilt, 2-5, Saturday at 3 p.m. on the SEC Network.
PROVINE AND JACKSON ACADEMY ALUMNUS AND LSU WIDE RECEIVER DEION SMITH LIKELY OUT OLE MISS
Provine and Jackson Academy alumnus and LSU freshman wide receiver Deion Smith suffered a foot/ankle injury two weeks ago against Kentucky and didn’t dress out against Florida last week.
LSU coach Ed Oregon told the Advocate Thursday night Smith would not play against No. 12 Ole Miss “unless something miraculous happens tomorrow, but I don’t think so.”
The 6-3, 198-pound Smith has 11 catches for 186 yards and two touchdowns. His 16.9 yards per catch leads the team.
Smith made his first collegiate start for LSU and caught five passes for 135 yards and two touchdowns, both in the first quarter, in a 49-21 victory over Central Michigan. He did not play in the season opener against UCLA but made his collegiate debut and caught two passes for 13 yards against McNeese State.
An Under Armour All-American, Smith was the No. 1 player in Mississippi and the No. 7 wide receiver in the nation by 247 Sports as a senior at Jackson Academy. He caught 36 passes for 640 yards and seven TDs, ran for 189 yards and two TDs and had 159 kickoff return yards in eight games before injuring his foot and having surgery last season. He helped JA to a 10-4 record and the MAIS Class 6A state championship game. He caught 43 passes for 1,509 yards and 19 TDs and averaged 31.2 yards on punt returns and 37.9 yards on kickoff returns as a junior at Provine. He transferred to JA as a senior because Jackson Public Schools did not play fall sports due to covid.
