Lane Kiffin took a compliment from Hugh Freeze and turned it into a jab aimed right back at the Auburn head coach.
After Freeze praised Ole Miss’s management of their NIL collective, Kiffin responded, “That’s nice of coach Freeze to compliment our management of our collective. I’m sure he’ll try to steal Walker Jones like he’s tried all of our coaches also.”
Walker Jones, a former Ole Miss linebacker, has been instrumental in leading The Grove Collective, Ole Miss’s primary NIL organization. Kiffin’s comments came shortly after Freeze had spoken positively about Ole Miss and Missouri’s handling of NIL strategies.
“I think in this new landscape, it’s become more challenging to navigate, and you’re constantly searching for ways to adapt with NIL and transfers,” Freeze said on Wednesday. “I think there are some programs doing it well, like Ole Miss and Missouri, and they’ve found ways to use NIL to their advantage and maintain a winning edge.”
Kiffin’s remark about Freeze potentially poaching staff adds to ongoing speculation. Auburn offensive coordinator Derrick Nix and offensive line coach Jake Thornton were both previously on Ole Miss’s staff before joining Auburn. Additionally, FootballScoop reports that Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding was another coach Freeze unsuccessfully attempted to recruit.
Kiffin’s comments appear to extend beyond just NIL matters, as earlier in the week, he seemed to subtly criticize Freeze’s handling of Auburn’s quarterback situation.
“In terms of the trust level on the field, it’s something you build over time,” Kiffin said regarding his quarterback, Jaxson Dart. “We spend a lot of time with them and then let them play on Saturdays. That trust develops, especially for a guy like Jaxson who we didn’t recruit out of high school. It matters when quarterbacks know they can trust you and that you’ve got their back.”
Reflecting on past experiences, Kiffin mentioned former quarterback Matt Corral, who threw six interceptions in one game. “Before I even got to the media, I sat down with him and said, ‘We’ve got to do better calling plays, and I need to coach better. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.’ That means a lot to players, and it goes a long way in recruiting. They need to know they can trust us.”
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