Rebels’ Bolden making big splash

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Nov 20, 2008 - UPDATED: 6:48 a.m.

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Ole Miss freshman running back Brandon Bolden won’t need any directions to Tiger Stadium on Saturday when he and the Rebels take on 18th-ranked LSU at 2:30 p.m.

Nor will Bolden be a stranger to all the traditions and intimidation techniques in place at the Tigers’ notoriously intimidating home venue.

After all, the Scotlandville High graduate has been there and done all that.

“It’s going to be pretty cool to come back home and play in front of all my family and friends who haven’t gotten a chance to come see me yet,” said Bolden, who has emerged as a primary weapon for the Rebels as a freshman. “It’s always going to be a little strange walking out onto that field for me because I spent a lot of time there. But once the game starts, it’s just going to be another game for me.”

That Bolden figures to play such a prominent role might be a surprise to some, but not to his first-year coach.

Bolden had a solid career at Scotlandville — he rushed for more than 2,700 yards and 28 touchdowns in three seasons — but not many expected him to step in and start immediately at the Southeastern Conference level.

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt saw things differently as soon as he got the Rebels job last Nov. 28 and got familiar with Bolden and the other incoming freshmen.

“We knew Brandon was a good high school football player,” said Nutt, whose Arkansas staff also recruited Bolden. “But you never know how mature a kid will be or how he’s going to handle the playbook and all the other things a freshman has to adjust to. Brandon came in with a tremendous attitude and had a great work ethic in the summer.

“I knew right off the bat from what our folks in the weight room told us that he was going to be ready to go and play as a true freshman. We also knew he was ready mentally. And then once two-a-days got here, there was no doubt in our mind that he was ready and was going to contribute a lot.”

Bolden has carried the ball 80 times for 400 yards with a pair of touchdowns and has pulled down seven passes for 82 yards and a score. Bolden has carried the ball eight times or more in seven games and has lined up regularly in the ‘Wild Rebel’ formation.

“From the time I stepped onto campus, I felt like I could compete for playing time because we’d lost our two main guys in the backfield from last year,” Bolden said. “I came here with high hopes and tried to work as hard as I could. It really helped me when coach Nutt got the freshmen together and told us he had high expectations from all of us.”

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