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

         OAK GROVE ALUMNUS JOHN RHYS PLUMLEE HAS BEST GAME AS WIDE RECEIVER AT OLE MISS

     Oak Grove High alumnus John Rhys Plumlee had his best game as a wide receiver at Ole Miss with seven catches for 110 yards in a 27-14 victory over Liberty Saturday in Oxford.

         The 6-foot, 200-pound Plumlee, a converted quarterback, has a more significant role in the passing game after several starting wide receivers are out with injuries.

“John had a really good game because he had a really good week of practice,” Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin said. “He had by far his best week, not even close, you could kind of see it coming. I think he took advantage of opportunities with people being out and showed it in practice and then took it to the game. It was great to see.”

Plumlee now has caught 16 passes – tied for third highest on the team – for 180 yards this season. He also has nine carries for 72 yards.

Plumlee played in seven games with one start at wide receiver last season. He ran 25 times for 94 yards, caught six passes for 79 yards and one touchdown and completed 5 of 7 passes for 94 yards and one TD.

Plumlee was named a freshman All-American after finishing eighth in the country with 113.7 rushing yards per game, highest among freshman, and setting a school freshman rushing record with 1,023 yards and 16 TDs (four passing, 12 rushing). He started eight games at quarterback. It was also the most rushing yards by an Ole Miss quarterback in history. Plumlee set an Ole Miss quarterback single game rushing record with 212 yards and four TDs against LSU.

Plumlee was rated as the No. 7 dual-threat quarterback in the nation by 247 Sports as a senior at Oak Grove. He completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 2,834 yards and 33 TDs with only three interceptions and led Oak Grove to a MHSAA Class 6A state runner-up finish as a senior.

No. 15 Ole Miss plays host to No. 11 Texas A&M Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.


         OCEAN SPRINGS HIGH ALUMNUS AND MSU WIDE RECEIVER AUSTIN WILLIAMS HAD BIG DAY AGAINST ARKANSAS

Ocean Springs High alumnus and Mississippi State senior wide receiver Austin Williams caught four passes for a career-high 72 yards in a 31-28 loss at Arkansas. It was the second-highest receiving yards for MSU in the game.

         The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Williams has caught 37 passes – tied for fourth on the team – for 400 yards and one TD this season. He also has three punt returns for 18 yards.

         Williams caught 43 passes for 372 yards – third highest on the team – and three TDs last season as a junior. He also returned eight punts for 48 yards. Williams played in 11 games with nine starts. He caught 11 passes for 119 yards and two TDs, second highest on the team, as a sophomore. Williams started five games and played in all 13 and caught 10 passes for 137 yards and three TDs as a redshirt freshman.

         Williams caught 48 passes for 697 yards and 13 TDs as a senior at Ocean Springs. He was rated as the No. 15 best recruit in Mississippi as a senior and played in the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game.

         MSU plays at No. 17 Auburn Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN.

         GEORGE COUNTY HIGH ALUMNUS AND TEXAS A&M DEFENSIVE TACKLE MCKINLEY JACKSON COMES BACK TO MISSISSIPPI

George County High alumnus and Texas A&M sophomore defensive tackle McKinley Jackson (No. 35) will be playing in his home state for the first time this season Saturday against Ole Miss in Oxford.

         The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Jackson is listed as the backup defensive tackle behind senior Jayden Peevy. Jackson played in six games with one start. He has seven tackles, one for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry. Jackson made two tackles in Texas A&M’s win over then-No. 1 Alabama.

         Jackson was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team after playing in 10 games with one start last season.

         Jackson, an Army All-American, was rated the No. 1 player in Mississippi as a senior at George County. He had 80 tackles, 34 for loss, and 10 sacks. Jackson was the MVP of the Mississippi/Alabama All-Star Game.

         No. 11 Texas A&M visits No. 15 Ole Miss Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.