Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin was beaming with confidence when praising Austin Simmons as his starting QB entering the season. It clearly didn't go as planned as Week 2 saw Simmons getting sidelined due to a right ankle injury.
The QB tried to push himself in Week 3 and played while still nursing, but it didn't end up much better either.
Backup QB Trinidad Chambliss had to step into the shoes, and he has done so quite seamlessly so far. While his stats from his two starts already speak volumes on how he has been handling the role so far, Ole Miss WR De'Zhaun Stribling's opinion about Chambliss gave all the confirmation it needed.
"Coming in and just taking the role and just playing ball. It's really cool how he can come in without all the distractions and just perform at a high level," Stribling said following Tuesday's practice.
"I'm not really surprised about it. He preps very good. He takes his job very seriously, and he's a great team player. I'm glad that he's stepped up in the spot and is making plays," Stribling said about Chambliss.
In his two starts and four appearances for Ole Miss this season, Chambliss has raked up 719 yards for four touchdowns, and led the Rebels offense to a win every time.
Stribling gives part credit to the mindset Kiffin has set in the locker room.
"We're just performing at a high level," Stribling continued. "I feel like we're always trying to do our job. We're all very bought into the end goal. As long as we keep doing that, winning our 1/11, everything's going to be smooth."
"We all have one common goal and that's to win — to go 1-0 each week. We do what we do, whether you're getting the ball or not, when we're out there. That's how we all stay level-headed. As long as we're 1-0, that's all that matters."
Ole Miss takes on LSU in a storied Magnolia Bowl rivalry on Sat, Sept. 27.