Ole Miss Rebels

Can Marquis Haynes shake off OT facemask against Arkansas?

Published Nov. 19, 2015 5:30 p.m. ET

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Playing alongside some of the most talented defenders in the SEC the past two seasons, Marquis Haynes has turned several heads as possibly the most consistent player on the Landshark defense over his first two seasons in Oxford.

During his breakout freshman season, Haynes racked up 7.5 sacks and nine tackles-for-loss. The defensive end failed to suffer from the common sophomore slump and has already bested those marks by posting 8.5 sacks and 12 tackles-for-loss for Ole Miss this season.

Despite the numbers, the play most synonymous with Haynes this season was his facemask penalty in overtime against Arkansas. The penalty gave the Razorbacks another opportunity, which they of course used to convert the game-winning score.

“That was a freak play where the quarterback really should be just throwing it up because a sack does him no good,” Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said during the SEC's coaches teleconference. “And for some reason, he ducks his head there and the facemask goes right into Marquis’ hand.

"Sometimes the best teaching that we have is through disappointment, and it’s not fun. It’s not enjoyable. But if handled the right way, I think that’s one of the best lessons that you learn from the game of football. How do you manage and handle those?”

Haynes will get his first chance to redeem himself this weekend against a reeling LSU team and its offensive line that has surrendered five sacks in consecutive games against Alabama and Arkansas. If the Landsharks get to LSU quarterback Brandon Harris five or more times, expect the Rebels to celebrate in the Grove Saturday night.