Take Five Breakdown: Kiffin comes to town

Please Read: Welcome to the new-look Inside the Gators

• 35-Game Report Card: Napier’s numbers are still lacking
• The Big Board: One month to go
• October Superlatives
• Former Florida Player Feedback: 10 Observations
• Recruit Reaction: I thought the atmosphere was electric
• Parental Perspective: Florida Football Commits Parental RoundTable
• What names are on your Coaching Hot Board
• OTM: Is there a path to a fourth year
• Ranking UF’s commits from least to most likely to jump ship

After a monstrous win over the LSU Tigers at the Swamp last weekend, the Florida Gators host another opponent on Saturday. The No. 9 Ole Miss Rebels are in town fighting for a spot in the College Football Playoff. To get a better feel for the Rebels, Inside the Gators caught up with Tyler Komis of Inside the Rebels for a full preview.

Five Ole Miss Rebels to Know

Jaxson Dart, Quarterback, Senior

• Ole Miss have one of the most talented quarterbacks in all of college football in Jaxson Dart. The former USC Trojan is coming into Saturday’s game with a left ankle injury which he picked up early on in the Rebels 28-10 win over Georgia. A big past of Dart’s game is stepping out of the pocket and rushing. It will be interesting to see if this knock affects his game in any way. “They got a bye week, so he had time off, but he definitely won’t be 100%,” Komis said.

Cayden Lee, Wide Receiver, Sophomore

• Sophomore receiver Cayden Lee is making the most of his second year as a Rebel. He is second on the team in receptions (40) and receiving yards (696). Although the young receiver only has one touchdown this season, he impacts drives by setting his team up for success. “Lee is definitely one of the more trusted receivers Dart looks for game in and game out,” Komis said.

Princely Umanmielen, Defensive End, Senior

• Former Florida Gator Princely Umanmielen is having a monster year. He has 9.5 sacks this season which is currently third in the SEC. “He’s really playing a big role for Ole Miss and setting up other guys in that defensive line,” Komis said. Umanmielen has 24 total tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a touchdown this season. Billy Napier may regret not doing more to keep the senior at the Swamp.

Chris Paul Jr., Linebacker, Junior

• Up next is the heart and soul of the Ole Miss defense, Chris Paul Jr. The Junior leads the team in tackling with 72 total tackles. He also has defended four passes, earned 2.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. “Not super high stats, but he’s a guy that plays with his hair on fire,” Komis said. “Like a heat seeking missile.”

Suntarine Perkins, Linebacker, Sophomore

• Another beast in the Rebels’ defense is Suntarine Perkins. The linebacker is only a sophomore, yet he has 10 sacks on the season as well as 47 tackles, a fumble return and an interception. Ole Miss uses Perkins as a hybrid edge/linebacker. “He’s a game changer and really comfortable in his second year of college,” Komis said. The Gators’ offensive line has probably their most difficult task yet this season.

Five Fast Facts

• Ole Miss hasn’t beaten Florida in the Swamp since 2008
• According to ESPN, Ole Miss ranks as the third most efficient team in college football with an 88.4 efficiency rating.
• Florida has won the last two games against Ole Miss.
• Lane Kiffin is 0-2 against the Florida Gators as a head coach.
• Jaxson Dart only needs 372 passing yards to become Ole Miss’ all-time passing leader surpassing Eli Manning.

Five Game Day Storylines

Florida in Bowl Contention

• The Florida Gators are one win away from making a bowl game this season. The Rebels are 11-point favorites heading into this game, but if the Gators’ defense plays anything like how they did against LSU, Florida has a chance. Not all is lost if the Orange and Blue fail to win on Saturday as Florida finishes the regular season against 1-9 Florida State.

Another Playoff Game for the Rebels

• If Ole Miss wants to make the College Football Playoff, the Rebels can’t afford to lose another game. This Gators’ team is playing with an edge and can compete against almost any team when healthy. “The Rebels can very well be eliminated after this weekend,” Komis said. “It is do or die for Ole Miss.”

Tre Harris is Back

• After missing the last three games due to injury, wide receiver Tre Harris is expected to play against Florida. In his last game out, Harris caught seven passes for 102 yards and a touchdown in the Rebels’ overtime loss to LSU. Since then, Ole Miss have been on a three-game winning streak. “A lot of Ole Miss fans want to see him back on the field,” Komis said. Even with his absence, Harris still leads the Rebels in receptions (59) and receiving yards (987).

Napier vs Kiffin

• After losing to Miami and Texas A&M, Florida fans wanted Billy Napier fired. Who did they want as his replacement? None other than Ole Miss’ head coach Lane Kiffin. Since Florida’s first bye week, Napier has really turned things around in the program as the Gators finally started competing. Not only is Saturday a big game for Napier, but also for his players who have put in the work.

Getting to the Quarterback

• Last time out, the Florida Gators sacked LSU seven times. That was more sacks than the Tigers had allowed all year. In the two games Ole Miss has lost this season, Dart was sacked at least four times. The path to a win for the Gators is to not only put pressure on the quarterback, but also to bring him down and force long yardage situations.

Prediction

• Joseph Torviso: Ole Miss 24-20
• Tyler Komis: Ole Miss 35-17

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