OXFORD – The Ole Miss Rebels' social media team has been paying attention to the battle between cornerback Trey Amos and wide receiver Tre Harris this spring, and for good reason.
These two names are among the best players in the Southeastern Conference at their respective positions, but that's not all they can bring to the table. When Amos entered the transfer portal from the Alabama Crimson Tide this offseason, he settled on Oxford as his new home. It was a quick decision by head coach Lane Kiffin and defensive coordinator Pete Golding to welcome him with open arms.
Amos and Golding weren't at Alabama at the same time, but they had crossed paths before joining the Tide when the corner entered the portal from the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. Golding tried to bring him to Oxford at the time, but he finally moved to the Rebels this autumn.
On Tuesday, Kiffin revealed some of the decision-making process that helped the staff decide Amos was a good fit for Ole Miss' roster, but it goes beyond just his ability on the field. He was trained by the now-retired Nick Saban, which had a lot to do with it.
“We had seen him before and really thought he was a special and unique player, long before our history with Pete,” Kiffin said. “It's a relationship thing this time around with Pete here, but I think he's a really good player. A guy with an incredible work ethic, an incredible culture.”
“I think you know what you're going to get from Coach Saban, just like you do when you hire an assistant coach from Alabama. When you get a player, especially a DB, you know how they're trained. I think you know what kind of player you are, you're used to it. “
Kiffin was then asked to expand on his earlier statements and provide details about what the team will get from Saban's protégé, whether it's a coaching job or a player job.
“I think Coach Saban is very special, and I think the culture there and the way they train people is very special. You were interviewing people, you were on the hiring side,” Kiffin said. said. When you communicate that to your players, you not only know their coaching well, but you also know how they think. That's a big deal. ”
Kiffin himself is a former Saban alum who spent 2014-16 with the Tide as offensive coordinator before reviving his head coaching career at Florida Atlantic. Saban: If there's anyone who sees and understands the inner workings of the system, it's Kiffin. And that seems to have played a big role in Amos' decision to pursue (and eventually acquire) his talent.
That should benefit the field again this season. Throughout his career at Louisiana and Alabama, the corner accumulated 71 total tackles (52 solo) and his one interception.
