Ole Miss announces 2019 SEC Media Day contingent

Published 12:49 pm Friday, July 12, 2019

When Ole Miss football players take the microphone on Tuesday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., there’s one aspect of the group that will stand out compared to other schools in the Southeastern Conference.

The Rebel contingent at media day will include senior offensive lineman Alex Givens, junior linebacker Mohamed Sanogo and redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Corral.

It may not seem like a surprising group – the defensive leader, the veteran offensive leader and the quarterback – but in a way, it is. Matt Corral isn’t just the only freshman attending media days. He’s the only underclassman, period.

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Nine of the 14 SEC schools are, unsurprisingly, sending their quarterbacks. However, the youngest of the non-Corral quarterbacks are juniors. It’s interesting and noteworthy. Ole Miss is instilling quite a lot of faith in the young Corral in what is literally a national stage – one that will be televised nationwide as well as watched by reporters from all over the southeast in-person.

The other two Ole Miss selections are relatively expected. Sanogo appeared in 11 games as a freshman before starting all 12 at inside linebacker last year, leading the team in tackles by a wide margin. The junior is the vocal leader on the interior of a defense in the midst of a coaching and scheme change.

Like Sanogo, Alex Givens has been playing since he stepped foot on campus. He was a freshman All-SEC selection after playing in every game, including five starts at right tackle. He’s been the most consistent part of the Rebel lineup ever since. Givens may not get a lot of recognition, doing the gritty dirty work along the offensive line. But Givens is going to be a key cog in the ability of the Rebels to keep Corral on his feet in 2019 in an SEC chock full of defensive line talent.

Along with the three Rebel players in Hoover will be Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke. Among other notable names from across the SEC that will be in attendance are two legitimate Heisman contenders in Alabama and Georgia quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Jake Fromm and a handful of likely early first-round draft picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including Auburn defensive tackle Derrick Brown and LSU safety Grant Delpit.