Lane Kiffin and 14th-ranked Ole Miss barely held off No. 7 Kentucky in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, winning 22-19.
But hearing Kiffin speak after the game, you’d think the Rebels ran the Wildcats out of Oxford, Miss., or at least, one pointed quote regarding his defense’s play against Kentucky quarterback Will Levis.
“They have a really good quarterback. I mean, their offensive coordinator said he’s the first pick of the (NFL Draft),” Kiffin said. “That’s a pretty good defense to hold them to 19 points when they have the first pick in the draft.”
Lane Kiffin credits Ole Miss defense for great performance:
“That’s a pretty good defense to hold them to 19 points when they have the first pick in the draft.”
— that SEC podcast (@thatSECpodcast) October 1, 2022
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Kiffin referred to a quote that appeared in an ESPN feature published Wednesday in which Wildcats offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello compared Levis to NFL talents Joe Burrow and Josh Allen.
“Will is as talented as anyone I’ve evaluated the last five years. The only two guys I would compare him to, where you could see it clearly, would be Joe Burrow and Josh Allen,” Scangarello told ESPN’s Chris Low. “I think he will be the first overall pick in the draft.”
Against Ole Miss, Levis completed 18 of 24 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns, but he rushed nine times for minus-19 yards, including sack yardage. He also fumbled on two of Kentucky’s final three drives, helping Ole Miss to the narrow victory.
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That’s not to say Levis isn’t talented, though most draft pundits believe Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud or Alabama’s Bryce Young will be the first quarterback off the board.
Levis not only led the Wildcats to a top-10 ranking — and, nearly, a 5-0 start — but he also is among the top prospects in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer considers him the No. 20 overall player on his top-50 big board and had Levis going 24th overall to the Lions in his latest mock draft.
Against Ole Miss, however, Levis came up short. And gave Kiffin the opportunity to troll him and Scangarello.