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Buckley: Ole Miss defensive staff values positional versatility
Buckley: Ole Miss defensive staff values positional versatility
Ole Miss first-year cornerbacks coach and college football legend Terrell Buckley stopped by Reb Talk with voice of the Rebels, David Kellum, on Thursday to discuss a wide range of topics, from his decorated playing career to losing spring practices and moving over to Ole Miss from in-state rival Mississippi State. Here’s what he had to say …
On how Ole Miss football is handling self-isolation: We’re still working, we’re still grinding. We had meetings all (Thursday). Staff meetings, still talking to recruits, our players. Making sure they’re doing install and what they’re supposed to be doing in school. It’s been busy.
On his success in college football as a player and coach: I was born in Columbia, Mississippi. My mom and Walter Payton went to high school together. Before first grade, we moved to the (Mississippi) coast. We didn’t have a high school in Gautier, so we had to get over to Pascagoula. This ride has been unbelievable. Kid from the coast, a 5-10, 155-pound kid out of high school that’s been a winner. I’ve been on winning teams since I can remember. I remember pick-up football in my grandparents’ yard. Whatever team I was on, we won. That went on to Pop Warner (youth football), the Mustangs, to junior high, the Gautier Gators, state champions at Pascagoula. Undefeated. Didn’t lose a game. Then went on (to Florida State and the NFL), and I have to pinch myself sometimes to realize I’m not dreaming. The blessings and everything this great game of football has provided for me. The coaches, my former teammates and currently the players. It’s been awesome. Keeps me young, keeps me going, keeps me competitive. I can’t use enough great words to describe what it has meant to me.
On the football talent Mississippi has produced: If you look at my high school, Pascagoula is approaching, I want to say, 12 guys that have come from that high school (and gone on to the NFL). You add that to all the other guys and what they’re doing … Brett Favre was right there close to us on the coast. It’s amazing. I tell people, per guy, if you go out and take the top guys from each state, you could match (Mississippi) up against anybody.
On losing the spring and not yet being able to evaluate current players on the field in practices: It puts us in a unique situation. We don’t know. You look at the depth, you look at who can play what. What we were trying to find out is who could give us position flexibility. I like to have guys that can play multiple positions. So does DJ (Durkin). Now we’re just talking about it and guessing. The one good thing about it is we did see them in the fourth quarter. We got the fourth quarter, so we saw some movement. We have an idea on what’s going to happen, and we’re doing these virtual meetings, so we’re not totally away, but it’s still nothing like seeing them live, seeing the one-on-ones, seeing the 7-on-7s. What happens after a great play? What happens after a bad play? When I’m jumping all over you, how are you going to react? That third week of camp, how are you reacting when your body’s sore? The first time we’re going to see all that is in fall camp, and then the season’s right around the corner.
On drawing on his many years coaching in the SEC: You have to be almost perfect. You also have to have some depth and you have to develop players. You have to get those marginal players and make them very good players. The guys you maybe wouldn’t count on you have to improve those guys so you can count on them. I think having dependable guys, several top-notch players and having depth is the key to winning in this league.
On the move to Ole Miss and continuing his career in Mississippi: I’m glad I’m here. This is an opportunity to continue my football development and career in the state I love, the state I was born and raised in and appreciate. I’m thrilled to be a part of the Ole Miss family. We want to put the Landshark defense on the field and let us do some Landsharking. Fins up, baby.
SOURCE: Garrett, Ben. "Buckley: Ole Miss defensive staff values positional versatility." OMSpirit - 247Sports.com, 18 April 2020,
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