Family, Football: Lane Kiffin at SEC Media Days

© Denny Simmons/Tennessean/USA TODAY NETWORK

It was with a heavy heart that Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin took the podium on July 15 at the 2024 Southeastern Conference Media Days in Dallas. Kiffin’s father Monte Kiffin, an NFL defensive visionary and the creator of the Tampa 2 defense, passed away on July 11 at 84.

It was apparent that young Kiffin was preoccupied, and rightfully so, with thoughts of his father. However, he pressed on with his turn at the podium. He followed his dad’s rule of “show up and do your job.”

Kiffin led the Rebels to an 11-2 season in 2023 and a victory over Penn State in the Peach Bowl. It was the first 11-win season in school history. In four seasons in Oxford, Miss., Kiffin has posted a 34-15 record and is one of 10 SEC coaches to earn a bowl berth in each of their first four seasons.

Kiffin Addresses 'Free Agency'

In this era of NIL and the transfer portal (or free agency as Kiffin described it many times), Kiffin was anointed as the "King of the Portal" this offseason as he found talented players to shore up key positions on his team, especially on a defense that returns 53 percent of their production from last season.

DL Walter Nolen (from Texas A&M), EDGE Princely Umanmielen (from Florida) and LB Chris Paul Jr. (from Arkansas) all have punched their ticket on the "Lane Train."

However, Kiffin stated that there is more to it than just plucking the best players from the portal. Those transfers also must gel and build chemistry with the returning players, and with each other. According to Kiffin, the right mix of guys with the right makeup is crucial.

The Rebels are Loaded

Going into 2024, Kiffin welcomes 20 starters back from last season (including transfers). Three of those starters accompanied Kiffin to SEC Media Days to rep the Rebels.

QB Jaxson Dart

Kiffin said that if the EA Sports College Football 25 game that dropped on July 15 for those who preordered the game, had a leadership rating on the players depicted in the game, with Dart rating a 99. Dart was throwing darts last season with 3,364 passing yards, 23 TDs and 5 INTs, along with completing 65 percent of his passes. In addition, he added 389 yards on the ground and 8 more scores. Dart is the No. 2 passer returning in the SEC in passing yards this season, behind Georgia's Carson Beck.

DE Jared Ivey

Going into his third season in Oxford, Ivey posted 46 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 2023 and will be part of a much-improved Ole Miss defense.

WR Tre Harris

Harris led the Rebels with 54 catches for 985 yards and 8 TDs. In 2023, Harris recorded five games of more than 100 yards receiving, including 11 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown in a win over Texas A&M. Harris is one of the top returning receivers in the league in 2024.

'Walking the Walk'

Kiffin is excited about the Rebels being more physical and having more length and size, something that Kiffin said will be more noticeable as they come off the team bus.

The Schedule

The Rebels play the 40th toughest schedule in the country, according to Phil Steele. Their toughest SEC games will be at home against Kentucky, on the road at LSU, and they host Oklahoma and Georgia.

According to Kiffin, the slate is challenging, especially a night game in Death Valley against the Tigers. If they split two of the four games listed above, that puts them at a minimum with a 10-2 record. The Rebels have the talent to contend for an SEC championship.

Kiffin tells his players not to put much stock of what is said in the press and on social media, good or bad. Do not focus on the narratives, he said, because it does not mean much. Players need to focus on being the best they can be, work hard, and then show up and do their jobs.

That is a philosophy from the man upstairs with the headset. A man named Monte.