Aug. 14, 2010

OXFORD, Miss. – The Ole Miss football team took to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday for the Rebels’ first scrimmage of the fall camp. Third-year head coach Houston Nutt was pleased with his team’s workout, which drew a crowd of approximately 4,000 fans.

“I was really proud of our first scrimmage,” Nutt said. “I thought the hitting was very crisp and everybody gave a lot of effort. I’m anxious to look at the film. This is a critical week coming up. It is just a week of eating and sleeping football.”

Junior tailback Enrique Davis busted a 56-yard touchdown run early in the scrimmage for the first score of the day. Nutt said that Davis’ big-play ability has earned the running back carries.

“We consider Enrique just like a starter. He is going to get a lot of carries. He is able to get into the open field and make some big runs. When you give him the ball he hits it.”

Transfer quarterback Jeremiah Masoli engineered a scoring drive on his first series ending with a nine-yard TD pass to freshman wideout Ja-Mes Logan. Masoli finished the day with a pair of touchdown drives. Freshman wide receiver Vincent Sanders hauled in an acrobatic 15-yard TD reception from junior quarterback Randall Mackey and Mackey later hit Melvin Harris for a 13-yard TD pass.

“I thought all three quarterbacks looked good," Nutt said. "They all do things a little different, but they all do things well. Nathan had a good read tonight and threw the ball well. Jeremiah gives you that ability to escape and can throw a 40-yard bullet. It wasn't Mackey’s best night, but he has been really accurate. I’m excited about our quarterback situation.”

Nutt also praised wide receiver Melvin Harris' play during the Rebels’ fall practice.

“Melvin Harris has had a really good camp and continues to make plays. I’m really excited about him.”

The Rebels will continue preseason drills on Sunday in preparation for the season opener against Jacksonville State on Sept. 4. Practices are closed to the public.

Ole Miss will kick off its fall sports season with an introduction to some of its athletics teams, including football, soccer and volleyball, with the annual Meet The Rebels Day on Saturday, Aug. 21. The event will begin at noon at the Indoor Practice Facility on campus and features a full day of festivities for fans that will conclude with a football scrimmage at Vaught-Hemingway stadium at 6 p.m. and will last approximately an hour.