Kewan Lacy, the Heisman Trophy candidate and nation’s third-leading rusher last season, is expected back in the Ole Miss backfield this Saturday against Vanderbilt. This huge news drops after the now No. 9 Rebels had an off week to recalibrate from a tough 52-28 loss to then-No. 21 Florida in Week 4, a game where Lacy’s absence was absolutely felt.
The Return Comes With a Huge Catch
Lacy’s been sidelined since Sept. 19, when he picked up a shoulder injury in their win over then-No. 7 LSU. Here’s the kicker: that’s the *same* left shoulder he had offseason surgery on. Plus, the guy’s been a warrior, playing through a thigh bruise from the season-opening win over then-No. 24 Louisville, according to the Clarion Ledger. Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding told reporters Monday that Lacy spent all last week rehabbing before finally hitting practice Sunday night. Golding said he “practiced last night, came back, did individual, did some team sessions.” He added that “a lot of that was non-contact last night,” but Golding “fully anticipate[s] having him this week.” But don’t expect the old Lacy workload right away. Golding was clear, saying Lacy “is not going to take the toll of 40 to 50 snaps and all those things.” So while he’s back, it’s not full throttle.
Why This Matters So Much for the Rebels’ Offense
Lacy is an absolute beast when healthy. Last season, he was third nationally with an insane 1,567 rushing yards and second with 24 rushing touchdowns, setting a new single-season Ole Miss record after transferring from Missouri. Even in just three games this year, he’s already stacked up 191 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His impact is undeniable.
Against Florida, with Lacy out, the Rebels’ backfield was a rotation. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss led the team with 44 rushing yards and notched two scores on the ground. Makhi Frazier picked up 42 yards on eight carries, JT Lindsey had 31 yards on 11 totes, and Joshua Dye added 11 yards on his lone attempt. Coach Golding praised his backups, saying JT Lindsey “continues to go to work” and is “a very explosive player,” while Makhi Frazier “runs the football extremely hard.” He stressed that these guys “got to be able to come in and execute and play efficiently,” especially since the snap count for Lacy will be limited. This means it’s still going to be a committee approach, with Lacy bringing the star power, but not necessarily the full workload.
This Saturday, No. 9 Ole Miss hits the road to face Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-2). The big question for the Rebels isn’t just if Lacy plays, but how effectively he plays under that snap limit. Can the other backs keep up their end of the bargain? It’s going to be a fascinating watch to see how this backfield rotation shakes out now that their Heisman hopeful is back, even if it’s not at 100%.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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