Ole Miss wrapped up its first preseason practice of the season Thursday with a wide range of players talking with reporters about the offseason, the ongoing preseason practices and the upcoming regular season.
You can read what the five offensive players had to say during their sessions here, as well as Pete Golding’s press conference here. The defensive side of the ball was also represented by three players who are expected to have big roles in the upcoming season. Here’s everything they said.
Suntarine Perkins, LB
On growing up in Mississippi and supporting Alabama…
I actually didn’t grow up an Ole Miss fan. I grew up an Alabama fan because they were the hot team. Everybody in my household was an Ole Miss fan, so there was some back and forth. But I’m excited that I came here. This is home, and this is where I belong.
On continuing to elevate Ole Miss as an in-state program…
It’s definitely an opportunity. We have to build on the way we came out and played last year. This year, we have an opportunity to get over the hump, improve from where we were and be better.
On whether the team has a chip on its shoulder…
I wouldn’t say it’s a chip on our shoulder, but there’s definitely a competitive mindset to get over the hump from where we were last year. We know what we’re made of. We know what we’re capable of, and we’re definitely going to show that this year.
On whether the team felt more overlooked during the playoff…
Yes, sir. The main thing Coach Pete always tells us is to keep the main thing the main thing. We can’t allow the outside noise to come into the building. We just have to be where our feet are.
On the culture surrounding Ole Miss football…
The culture is really nice and friendly. Everybody loves one another. You can walk around the Square and people will say hello or good morning. Simple things like that make it a really nice atmosphere and a good place to work.
On how winning has changed the culture…
It definitely has. You have players coming here from different places and experiencing how the community treats people. I had a conversation with Sharif (Denson) about coming here. Later, I went back home and met a guy at a restaurant who said he had driven Sharif as an Uber passenger. He said Sharif talked about the fan base and the community here. He said this was the only place where people had shown him genuine love.
Keaton Thomas, LB
On contributing in pass coverage…
I think I can shut things down. I can cover whoever you want me to cover, even Deuce a little bit, even though that joker is so fast. I want to be a sideline-to-sideline guy. I can go to the field and cover, and I can go into the boundary and cover. Whatever you need, I’m going to get it done.
On the most difficult offensive players to cover…
At tight end, Luke Hasz is really shifty. He’s slippery getting in and out of his routes, and he’s so smooth as a route runner. If we’re talking about receivers, it has to be Deuce. Horatio is also a really good route runner and a big pass catcher. It’s tough dealing with those bigger bodies. You have to get underneath them and can’t let them get their hands on you.
On playing for a defensive-minded head coach…
I love it. I love walking into the building knowing I get to be aggressive and my coach isn’t going to be mad at me for being aggressive. That’s what we’re built on, and that’s what we have to do all year. We have to work on it and show who we are every day and on every play. The coaches did a great job with the installation and making sure everything went smoothly. I think we got a lot of work done. I’m excited to be in camp and see the defense and offense flowing and competing against each other. I’m just thankful to be here.
On how the linebackers have come together…
Since we got here, we’ve clicked. I remember when Luke first got here. I reached out to him on Instagram and got his number. We’ve been hanging out and cooking steaks together as a room. You want the entire team to be close, but especially the linebackers. It has to be a one-two punch. I want to be able to look over at Luke without saying a word, have us nod at each other and both know what’s going on.
On potentially wearing the green dot…
We haven’t decided yet. It has gone back and forth. If I were to get it, I’d be thankful. If Luke were to get it, I’d be extremely happy for him.
On being the quarterback of the defense…
I love it. It’s a mixture of a lot of pressure and a lot of freedom because you control the defense. To me, the pressure is the best part because pressure makes diamonds. I want to find out how much pressure I need before I become a diamond.
On how he and Luke Ferrelli complement each other…
Luke reminds me of a guy I played with during my first year at Baylor, Matt Jones. Matt and I did a lot of really good things together, and I believe Luke and I can do the same. I’m excited to see how that tandem develops as the year goes on.
On Pete Golding’s honesty and coaching style…
I love playing for somebody who wants us to be aggressive and go as hard as we can every day. There’s nothing better. PG is so honest and upfront that it makes you realize, “If I mess this up, I have to fix it and then become elite at it.” That’s what the professionals do. Having someone in your corner who is going to be honest and critique everything you do is phenomenal.
On last season’s playoff run motivating the team…
That carrot is definitely dangling, but my favorite thing about the guys who were here last year is that nobody talks about the run. That’s a really good quality to have. They’re so hungry that they aren’t worried about what happened last year. Regardless of what anybody did last year, whether they were here or at another school, nobody has accomplished anything during the 2026 season. We have to be great this season, so what happened in the playoff doesn’t matter now.
On playing behind Will Echoles…
I love playing behind Will. He’s so quick for someone that big. He’s smooth with his movements and really good with his hands. I’m excited to play behind him.
On what Kam brings to the defensive line…
Kam is like a faster Will. He’s huge. I remember the first time I saw him. I was like, “Man, I’m excited. This is like Christmas.”
On the defense’s developing identity…
Violent. We call it reckless abandonment. That means we don’t care what is happening in the game or on the field. We’re going to go as hard as we can and continue pushing each other. When that standard is upheld, it keeps getting higher and higher. That’s what you want from a defense. You want a group of guys who don’t care what is happening or who is watching. They just want to make everybody who represents Ole Miss proud, including our fans.
On the people pictured on his necklace…
That’s my uncle and my little brother. My uncle passed away in 2019, so I try to bring him everywhere with me.
Kam Franklin, DE
On what Pete Golding has meant to his development…
Coach Golding means a lot. He’s one of those guys you can tell is genuine and truly cares. He cares about his players, but I think he cares even more about them as people. He has shown that tremendously throughout my years here, and I’ve seen him do the same for other guys. He does a really good job of coaching each person differently and understanding what every player needs because we aren’t all the same. He has played a huge role in my development. When I came in, he laid everything out for me. Everything he told me during recruitment is the same thing he tells me now. I was 15 or 16 then, and I’m 20 now. The story hasn’t changed, the message hasn’t changed and he hasn’t changed.
On how last season brought the team closer…
I honestly don’t know exactly how we all became so close. I think it happened when adversity hit and people weren’t expecting much from us. We went from the defense we had in 2024 to the team we had last year, and people viewed it as a rebuilding or drop-off year. We came together and said, “We’re going to do it. We’re going to show them.” That’s what we did. Going into this year, it’s basically the same thing. It’s understood.
On what people may not know about Will Echoles…
Everybody knows he’s a great person, but he has a genuinely good heart. He cares about people, and he’s a funny guy. I love being around him. Will just works. He puts his head down, and he’s a true leader. He’s an all-around good, wholesome person.
On Mississippi players starring at Ole Miss…
I think it’s very important. I didn’t grow up as an Ole Miss or Mississippi State fan. But as I’ve gotten older and realized what we’re actually doing, it has started to mean a lot more. We could have all gone to different places. We all had numerous options, but we decided to stay here, play for something greater than ourselves and leave a legacy. It hits differently when you’re in your own backyard doing something you’ve dreamed about since you were a little boy. It also means more because we can show the kids coming behind us what’s possible.
