April 1, 2006

OXFORD, Miss. - Michael Hicks recorded 126 receiving yards and BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushed for 112 in Ole Miss' third football scrimmage of the spring Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/ Hollingsworth field.

Rebel head coach Ed Orgeron was pleased with the overall effort of his squad in the balanced midday practice.

"Both sides of the ball, I thought, competed hard," said Orgeron. "At times, the defense played very well, and at times, the offense did exactly what I expected. We got better work on the specials teams. We're coming along."

Seth Adams, a junior transfer from Hinds Community College, continued to take all of the first-string snaps at quarterback and completed 11-of-23 passes for 150 yards with an interception. The 6-foot-4 signal-caller also ran for 20 yards and a pair of scores.

"We knew (Seth) could play, but for him to be the first-team guy is pretty good," Orgeron said. "I was really pleasantly surprised that he came to us, and he's the starting quarterback for now before Brent (Schaffer) comes in."

Playing with both teams, Hicks hauled in six passes including a 25-yard touchdown grab from Billy Tapp, who was 10-of-19 for 163 yards running the second unit. A redshirt freshman, Hicks moved from the secondary to wideout this spring.

"Sometimes it takes time," said Orgeron of Hicks. "But he caught some big balls today and made some big plays."

Green-Ellis carried 22 times in topping the century mark and reached the endzone twice. Junior transfer Bruce Hall earned some time with the first team in his second scrimmage since shifting from quarterback to tailback and finished the day with 14 rushes for 42 yards with a TD.

Also garnering first-string snaps was senior Moss Point native James McCoy at center.

"It's a battle between (McCoy) and (Maurice Miller)," Orgeron said. "It will see-saw until the season or until someone beats them out."

Defensively, Robert Russell, Rogers Loche and Bryan Brown each registered seven solo stops. Quentin Taylor posted four total tackles, a TFL, a pass break-up and an interception, while Hayward Howard was credited with three solos with a sack and a pass break-up.

The Rebels will cap their spring next Saturday with the annual Red-Blue Game. The scrimmage is set to start at 1 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

RUSHING
BenJarvus Green-Ellis - 22 rushes, 118 yards, 2 TD
Bruce Hall - 14 rushes, 42 yards, 1 TD
Hiram White - 10 rushes, 38 yards
Billy Tapp - 2 rushes, 26 yards
Seth Adams - 11 rushes, 20 yards, 2 TD
Conner Wise - 2 rushes, 8 yards
Burnell Wallace - 1 rush, 6 yards

PASSING
Billy Tapp - 10-19, 163 yards, 1 TD
Seth Adams - 11-23, 150 yards, 1 INT
Conner Wise - 6-12, 67 yards, 1 INT

RECEIVING
Marshay Green - 7 rec., 76 yards
Michael Hicks - 6 rec., 126 yards, 1 TD
Robert Lane - 3 rec., 21 yards
Keith Houston - 2 rec., 21 yards
Jason Cook - 2 rec., 21 yards
BenJarvus Green-Ellis - 2 rec., 19 yards
Seth Michaelson - 2 rec., 12 yards
Robert Hough - 1 rec., 21 yards
Jason Hawkins - 1 rec., 17 yards
Bruce Hall - 1 rec., 15 yards
Burnell Wallace - 1 rec., 15 yards
Lawrence Lilly - 1 rec., 6 yards

TACKLES
Robert Russell - 7 solo, 1 TFL (-2 yards)
Rogers Loche - 7 solo, 2 assist
Bryan Brown - 7 solo, 1 assist
Terrell Jackson - 6 solo
Garry Pack - 4 solo, 1 assist, 1 QB sack, 1 TFL (-4 yards)
Peria Jerry - 4 solo, 3 assist
Charles Clark - 4 solo
Chris Bowers - 3 solo, 3 assist, 1 QB sack, 1 TFL (-8 yards)
Hayward Howard - 3 solo, 1 pass defended, 1 QB sack, 1 TFL (-8 yards)
Quentin Taylor - 3 solo, 1 assist, 1 pass defended, 1 TFL (-1 yard), 1 INT
Nate Banks - 3 solo, 1 assist, 1 pass defended
Dustin Mouzon - 3 solo, 1 assist
Brandon Jenkins - 2 solo, 1 assist
LeRon King - 2 solo, 1 assist
Jeremy Garrett - 2 solo
Gary Albury - 1 solo, 2 assist, 1 INT
Trumaine McBride - 1 solo, 2 assist
Antonio Turner - 1 solo, 1 assist
Gary Riggs - 1 solo