April 11, 2011

OXFORD, Miss. - Ole Miss kicked off Grove Bowl Week the same way it had the last two weeks, with a two-plus practice in the Indoor Practice Facility after rains forced the Rebels indoors on Monday.

After watching film, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt said he was pleased with his team in the spring's second full-scale scrimmage held on Saturday and keyed on several player's improve performance.

"Each day, except for a couple of practices, we have gotten better," said the Rebels' fourth-year mentor. "The film from Saturday showed a lot of improvement. Enrique Davis had an outstanding practice. Bradley Sowell and Bobby Massie both showed a lot of effort. Matt Hall really stepped up at right guard; I'm really proud of him. Defensively, we had about four or five starters out, but some guys stepped up into their place. Ralph Williams really stood out with his tackling. Clarence Jackson and Charles Sawyer have also stepped up. Wesley Pendleton has also had a really good spring."

Nutt also updated the status of senior running Brandon Bolden, who suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's scrimmage.

"Brandon had a really tough ankle injury on the goal line. It's pretty swollen and he has been running hard all spring, so we will probably hold him for a little while."

In other injury news, Nutt said that junior linebacker D.T. Shackelford sustained a knee injury in today's practice. An immediate diagnosis was not known and an MRI was scheduled for tomorrow.

In the Rebels' quarterback competition, Nutt noted the accuracy of junior-college transfer Zack Stoudt. He also praised the poise Barry Brunetti and Randall Mackey have shown in recent practices.

"I thought Zack threw the ball extremely well today and he was very accurate. Randall Mackey and Barry Brunetti keep coming. We put a little more shotgun work in this week and that is where they shine. I'm really proud of how they have handled the amount we have thrown at them. We just have to keep improving and playing faster."

Ole Miss' Tuesday practice is tentatively planned for 4:05 p.m. on the practice fields. Practices are open to the public, and daily times and locations will be updated on OleMissSports.com.

Fans must remain in the designated area. When the team practices outdoors, fans are not allowed between the practice fields.

Spring drills will culminate with the BancorpSouth Grove Bowl, Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. at Vaught Hemingway Stadium/ Hollingsworth Field. That Saturday will also include an awards ceremony and panel discussion at 11 a.m. with several former Rebel standouts from the NFL ranks.

Other events surrounding Grove Bowl Week include the inaugural Rebels' Choice Awards, tonight at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for Performing Arts and the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Banquet, Thursday at the Indoor Practice Facility. Tickets for both are available through the UM Box Office.