SPORTS PAGE 12 | THE DAILY MISSISSIPPIAN | 25 october 2012 | SPORTS
Wallace Becoming a Leader Rebels look to exploit In his first season at Ole Miss, sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace has established himself as a leader both on the offensive side of the ball and on the team as a whole. Wallace is the team’s leading passer with 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns.
wounded Hogs defense Ole Miss resumed practice Wednesday afternoon in preparation for their Southeastern Conference showdown with Arkansas on Saturday. Ole Miss faces an Arkansas defense, which will also be without two starting linebackers due to injury. BY MATT SIGLER mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
Sophomore quarterback Bo Wallace
BY MATT SIGLER mcsigler@go.olemiss.edu
A quarterback is looked at to command the offense and establish himself as a leader both in the huddle and in the locker room. Sophomore Bo Wallace has done just that in his first season at Ole Miss. The Pulaski, Tenn., native has been welcomed with open arms to the football team and has taken over as the Rebel’s leader under center.
TYLER JACKSON | The Daily Mississippian
“I think he has done a nice job of gaining their respect,” head coach Hugh Freeze said. “There is no doubt that the kids have confidence in him, and they know he is a competitor and he is going to compete on every snap to make a play. Certainly, the last couple of weeks taking care of the ball and being productive offensively and moving us, particularly at critical times, I think that only adds to his leadership as others see him. “I think he has done a nice
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job of it, but obviously he has to continue doing that and continue to take care of the ball like he has.” On the year, Wallace has thrown for 1,371 yards and nine touchdowns and has also added 225 yards on the ground with five touchdowns. Not only has he led the Rebels offensively all year, but he has also been able to gain respect from his teammates and keep it as the season has progressed, a point he stressed as soon as he joined the team. “I think I’ve done a good job of it,” Wallace said. “I think they kind of follow me and listen to me. I still have to be more vocal than I am. I think I’m really good at being vocal during the game, but also when we are out here lifting weights, or running, or things like that.” Wallace’s determination to become a leader has also caught the eyes of some of the older players on the team such as junior corner Charles Sawyer. “He’s not a talkative leader, but he does what he needs to do,” Sawyer said. “If it’s workout, he goes to workout. He is See WALLACE, PAGE 11
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Ole Miss enters Saturday’s showdown against Arkansas with the potential of having one of their biggest offensive games of the season. The Rebels (4-3, 1-2 SEC) will take on a Razorback defense that is ranked 13th in the SEC in total defense, 12th in scoring defense, last in pass defense and fifth in rush defense. The Razorbacks (3-4, 2-2 SEC) will also be without senior linebackers Alonzo Highsmith and Tenarius Wright, who are both out for the year due to injury. Highsmith was the team’s leading tackler with 54 total tackles, and Wright turned in 28 tackles before suffering his injury. “They’ve got a lot of depth
Freshman safety Trae Elston
it looks like to me, so I don’t know how it will affect them,” offensive coordinator Dan Werner said. “Hopefully adversely. Highsmith was a really good player; he could really run around. I’m sure they have someone who can step in and do a good job for them.” Despite the two key losses for the Razorbacks, the Rebels anticipate still seeing a defense that has improved the past few weeks. “Steady improvement,” head coach Hugh Freeze said of the Arkansas defense. “Any time you lose leaders, there is some transition that happens, but they seem to have really rallied around each other in that time and no question they have improved the last few weeks.” See REBELS, PAGE 11
FILE PHOTO (QUENTIN WINSTINE) | The Daily Mississippian
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