Ten From the Last Ten - 5, 6, 7, 8

by Juco All-American on Dec 4, 2009 4:09 PM EST

Continuing our countdown which we began yesterday, we are revealing numbers 5-8 this afternoon. As with the last installment, comment and criticize at will. There's ten whole years of football to talk about here.

NUMBER EIGHT

Ken Lucas is really, really excited to be on this list.

Ken Lucas - CB - 2001 - Lucas is certainly the best defensive back to play at Ole Miss in the past ten years. I haven't been following Ole Miss athletics religiously for much longer than that, but I would (blindly) guess that he's the best corner to play at Ole Miss since integration (see: ever). In an era of terrible Rebel cornerback play that featured defensive backs who didn't even have the awareness to pick off or even deflect passes, Lucas stood alone.

Ken Lucas garnered All-American honors in 2000 and was selected in the second round of the draft by the Seattle Seahawks in 2001. He finished his career at Ole Miss with 87 tackles, 7 picks, and 33 passes defended. That's awesome, considering he was a wide receiver until his junior year. He also returned some kicks and even had two blocked punts on special teams. Lucas had a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers but was re-signed by the Seahawks in April of this year.

NUMBER SEVEN

How do you like him now, Major Wright?

Shay Hodge- WR - Still on roster - As Ghost recently discussed, Shay Hodge just set the single season record for receiving yards by an Ole Miss Rebel. Hodge's impact to the Rebel receiving corps really can't be overstated, especially this season. He has been our everything. But that's to be expected. He has contributed over and over again since the day he got to Ole Miss.

Oh, and Shay, you were forced out, and the Bama player touched the ball before you did. We all know that. Don't worry. You'll be missed in Oxford and loved wherever it is you end up after the draft.

NUMBER SIX

What picture did you expect us to use?

Peria Jerry - DT - 2009 - In the past 10 years, there have been bigger Rebel defensive tackles than Peria Jerry. There have been stronger defensive tackles. There have been faster, more durable, and more highly recruited. But none have had the motor, awareness, knowledge of the game, and absolute ferocity of Peria Jerry. If they didn't play for teams I hate with a passion which burns like a thousand suns, I'd feel bad for the SEC guards and centers who lined up against Jerry. I truly would. As soon as that ball was snapped, you were in for a world of pain. No matter how hard you tried, Jerry was going to go over, under, through or around you. He hated you. Hell, he still hates you. If every Rebel defender from this season played with the intensity of Peria Jerry, our defense would have been the SEC's best--hands down.

My personal Peria Jerry moment came during the fourth quarter of last year's Cotton Bowl. Jerry, Laurent, Powe, Tillman, Hardy, and the rest of the Landsharks had absolutely worn the Texas Tech line out for three straight quarters. They were ragged. They were sucking wind, whiffing blocks, and being exposed as the slow, doughy line that they truly were. All of that would eventually go to their heads when, just as the game was winding down, Brandon "Mudvayne" Carter and Center McGee (a guy whose last name was Hamlin, sorry I forgot and Google isn't exactly being nice to me right now) got pissed off at seemingly nothing and began ripping their helmets off, flailing their arms about, and pointing fingers at Jerry. Whatever he said or did to them, really set them off something fierce. They looked like they were about to rumble, but they didn't. Instead, they both slowly backed up to the Tech sideline, all the while continuing to jaw and gesture at Peria Jerry and company.

Really? Y'all are some tough guys huh? Then why is it that you're backing away from the very guy you're trying to pick a fight with. Peria Jerry has that effect on men: he drives them insane by stomping their brains in.

NUMBER FIVE

The book on left tackles

Michael Oher - OT - 2009 - What really needs to be said about Michael Oher? He started on the offensive line in his first game as a Rebel. He never missed a game to injury, and he got better every year at Ole Miss. The guy has helped bring national attention to the University through The Blind Side, and he's already excelling in the NFL. There's no point in even writing more here. If there are things you don't know about Michael Oher, read the book.

Tomorrow or later today: Numbers one through four.

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Comments

I realize the criteria was "10 Greatest" football Rebs of the decade...

and that that criterion is rather subjective. And everyone has a pretty good idea, I think, of where you’re heading as far as 1-3, at least.

But seriousy, who was better at what they do than Peria Jerry was? By nature of their positions, P Willie and Eli had to be more flexible in their talents in order to be effective. And their positions were certainly more glamorous. I get that.

But to the question of “Who dominated their position?”, there isn’t a better answer than Peria. He was asked to whip his man’s ass and disrupt the offefnsive play. He did that on every single down. And he shiined brightest in the biggest games (see: your picture). I would also argue that he was a better leader on a much better team than was P Willie.

In sum: I would have a hard time ranking Peria outside of the top 2.

one foot in the grave, one foot on the pedal...

by Bill Fremp on Dec 4, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions

I agree, sort of...

I had Peria ahead of Oher in a close one. Oher was serviceable for 3 years, and great for 1. Peria was off and on (mostly off) his first three years because of injury, but for that 4th year, he was dominant in a way that Oher never was.

by Whiskey Wednesday on Dec 4, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions

I didn't realize Michael Oher was a DT.

Makes you wonder what else in The Blind Side was fiction.

by monkey11508 on Dec 4, 2009 6:11 PM EST reply actions

You know, a "D" is a lot like an "O"

with a straight edge.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the Culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Take a picture, trick.

by The Ghost of Jay Cutler on Dec 4, 2009 6:40 PM EST up reply actions

Eli

He must be number 1. You really can’t debate it.

by HindsReb on Dec 4, 2009 10:55 PM EST reply actions

The hell I can't.

By “impact on the program,” there may be no comparison, but, honestly, Willis has been better in the league, thus far, than Manning. He played through injury. He was first-team All SEC infinity times more than Manning (2 to 0).

I mean, it’s apples and oranges. There can be no doubt that these Willis and Manning are 1 and 2. But, there’s an argument for Willis.

Red Cup Rebellion - Changing the culture of Ole Miss Athletics
Destroying your traditions since [YEAR REDACTED].

by Ivory Tower on Dec 5, 2009 1:31 AM EST up reply actions

Bill Fremp

Peria never reached his potential until his senior season. We saw occasional flashes of his ability prior to that, but injury – and lack of coaching and motivation – prevented him from making a huge difference in his first three years. Eli and Willis made a difference from the first time they stepped onto the field until their final game.

by ssmund on Dec 5, 2009 2:32 AM EST reply actions

"Tomorrow or later today: Numbers one through four."

Liar!

Stawp g’tin tuchee-feelie, zzzEmoGoestzzz. I dun’t lyke noin ur Emoshuns!

by Role Player on Dec 6, 2009 3:31 PM EST reply actions

An argument can be made for Willis

No doubt about that. However, when talking about the number 1 Rebel player of the decade, it has to be Eli. His impact on the program alone is enough for him to be number 1.

by HindsReb on Dec 6, 2009 7:36 PM EST reply actions