OXFORD — Ole Miss cornerback Brandon Turnage isn’t going to try and hide it. Aug. 31 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium will mean the world to him.
Turnage, an Oxford native who starred at Lafayette High School, was a premier recruit in the 2019 class. He spent his first two seasons at Alabama before transferring to Tennessee for the last three. Turnage started five games for the Volunteers in 2022 and finished with 17 tackles, four passes defended and an interception. He played in 12 games for Tennessee last year and had nine tackles.
Turnage entered the transfer portal in December and committed to the Rebels in January. His first game as an Ole Miss player figures to be an emotional homecoming. The No. 6 Rebels open the season against Furman.
“Man, I think about that every single day of the week,” Turnage said with a smile. “Every day, I just kind of get chills just thinking about the atmosphere, the crowd, knowing that I probably know a lot of people in the stands. I think about that daily.”
Turnage has played all over the field in his college career — he played mainly at cornerback at Alabama and played some safety and nickelback with the Volunteers. He is willing to do whatever the team needs him to, he said. His familiarity with defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s scheme helps as well; Golding was the defensive coordinator at Alabama during Turnage’s Crimson Tide tenure. Turnage said the version of the defense the Rebels run is nearly the same as he ran at Alabama but a bit simpler. Turnage has taken it upon himself to help his new teammates learn the system.
“A lot of times, we were probably doing the same things, it just has a different name to it and maybe a little tweak in a certain formation or something like that,” Turnage said. “ … I just try to help as much as I possibly can, and usually after I talk to guys, they probably have a better understanding of everything.”
Turnage will likely get his share of opportunities this fall all over the Rebels’ defensive backfield. Last season’s starting cornerbacks, Deantre Prince and Zamari Walton, are both gone, as is safety Daijahn Anthony. The Rebels return talent across the defensive backfield but added a number of players in the portal this winter. In addition to Turnage, the Rebels added four-star Alabama transfer cornerback Trey Amos, four-star South Alabama transfer safety Yam Banks and three-star transfer safeties Key Lawrence (Oklahoma) and Louis Moore (Indiana).
“I want to line up wherever I’m needed,” Turnage said. “That’s why I try to know everything, so I’m prepared if I have to.”
Tre Harris earns preseason All-American honors
Senior wide receiver Tre Harris was named a preseason second-team All-American by the AP Monday. Harris, who was a preseason first-team All-SEC selection, led Ole Miss with 985 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
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