'Next Man Up' Ulysses Bentley IV Spearheaded Ole Miss Rebels Ground Game vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
The "next-man-up" mentality applied to the Ole Miss Rebels' running back room earlier this season, and the team may be all the better for it as a result.
Against the Tulane Green Wave and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, standout running back Quinshon Judkins nursed an injury that limited his production. In his absence, Ulysses Bentley IV took on a more prominent role and demonstrated the Rebels do, in fact, possess one of the most talented running back rooms in the nation, when healthy.
Over the last few weeks, Bentley has stepped up for the Rebels during some uncharacteristic struggles for the rushing attack. In the fourth quarter on Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks, the ground game took control, adding over 100 yards en route to a 27-20 win.
“We kinda knew it was crunch time during that fourth quarter," Bentley said. "We knew we had to take over and run the ball extremely hard to get another win. Each and every day, I am slowing my game down, reading different runs for me to be able to have that success.”
Seven of the last nine carries in Ole Miss’ win were possessed by Bentley, not Judkins. Head coach Lane Kiffin added some input on why Bentley was the go-to guy late in the rivalry game.
“He ran it well today,” Kiffin said on Judkins. “Bentley ran really special today. This program, we maybe don’t do it like some other people. If somebody’s hot, it doesn't matter what you did the year before, where you came from, how many stars, what you did in the portal, any of that stuff.”
Ole Miss RB Ulysses Bentley IV celebrates a score vs. LSU.
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Distinct from Judkins, Bentley views himself as more of a finesse running back rather than possessing brute power. He is an elusive back who reads the play well and is able to find holes in opposing defensive lines to create separation.
“I've always been kind of the 'finesse back,' out-running people and winning my one-on-ones,” Bentley said.
Through the first six weeks of the season, Bentley has 37 carries for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Most of his production coming as of late, Bentley added on what has made him so successful every time he gets the ball.
“Working on it in practice," Bentley said. "Coach always tells us when we are running the ball to finish through and go through the end zone. I kind of just do that all the time, and that's what leads me to have all of those yards.”
With the healthy return of Judkins, the Rebels running game is beginning to recapture its former strengths from last season. Having an additional option like Bentley will significantly boost the rush attack to even greater heights as Ole Miss reaches the halfway point of the season.
