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In the modern transfer portal era, players frequently face off against their former teams, and the Ole Miss Rebels have already experienced this dynamic at the highest level when they squared off against Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers earlier this season. This week, the Ole Miss defense is gearing up to face quarterback Austin Simmons and wide receiver Cayden Lee, both of whom spent multiple seasons in Oxford but will now suit up for the opposition on Saturday.
As Pete Golding readies his unit for Missouri, his intimate knowledge of Simmons could prove invaluable. Golding monitored Simmons closely during his tenure at Ole Miss and has spoken highly of the former Rebel signal-caller. "It's scary to know how good he is and how talented he is," Golding remarked. "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."
But Golding didn't just observe Simmons; he schemed against him directly in practice. When asked if that provides an advantage, Golding explained, "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. 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 guy's demeanor and how they think..."
Simmons was Ole Miss's starting quarterback last season before an injury sidelined him, allowing Trinidad Chambliss to take over and never look back. Simmons subsequently transferred to Missouri, where he has been sensational this year, throwing for 1,434 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and just one interception. He will be one of the toughest quarterbacks Ole Miss faces this season, but the familiarity should help. However, Simmons's massive improvement makes the assignment tougher.
Both Golding and Simmons understand each other's tendencies. Golding noted that the biggest challenge, regardless of the opponent, is how the defense can make the same things look different. He added that Ole Miss will try to disguise coverages to make any quarterback indecisive. Golding will aim to confuse Simmons and force mistakes. The Rebels' defense responded well against Vanderbilt, but they'll face a much better opponent in Missouri. Golding's relationship with Simmons could be advantageous, but the Tigers' quarterback is playing at a high level.
Key Analysis
Golding's familiarity with Simmons offers a psychological edge, as he can anticipate Simmons's reactions under pressure. Yet, Simmons's growth in Missouri's system and his stellar statistics suggest that past knowledge may only go so far. The chess match between Golding's disguises and Simmons's decision-making will likely determine the game's outcome.