The Ole Miss Rebels are currently in the midst of spring practice, but attention is already turning to what this club could become in the autumn. Ole Miss is gaining national attention as a legitimate contender for a College Football Playoff berth, which would be the first in school history. This year, the Rebels have become the poster child for offseason enthusiasm, thanks to returning talent and incoming transfers.
One of those returning players is wide receiver Jordan Watkins, who was made accessible to the media after practice on Thursday. Watkins and the Rebels have great expectations for this season, but he believes there is still work to be done before those goals become a reality, which begins in the spring.
“I think that we set our expectations really, really high,” Watkins said. “We look at it and one of our mental health guys said something that stuck with me: We’re not a team yet. We’re just a roster. We’re just a group of names on a list that play football at Ole Miss, but we’re not a team yet. “Until we’re a team, I don’t think we’ll meet our expectations. But if we all come together as one team instead of a roster, the sky’s the limit: national championship, College Football Playoff. That’s our expectation, but we have to become a team first.” Watkins has been plagued with injuries throughout his college career, so alongside this “team” mindset, he hopes to help the Rebels by simply being at 100 percent throughout this season.
“The main goal for me is just to stay healthy,” Watkins stated. “I’ve had a lot of injuries during my college career, and I don’t believe I’ve ever played a whole season completely healthy. I’ve stuck it out and played games, but I haven’t felt well. Simply take care of my body and stay healthy. The veteran wideout is used to playing through ailments, but he is also inspired by another guy on the roster. Quarterback Jaxson Dart has been dubbed a locker room leader, with a key responsibility in securing new and returning players for a successful season in 2024.
