Ole Miss running back Makhi Frazier is coming off the first 100-yard SEC game of his career, 101 yards on 15 carries in the 31-3 win over Missouri, according to Ole Miss Athletics. He met with reporters Tuesday ahead of Saturday’s trip to No. 19 Texas.
It felt pretty good to get the first 100 yards in the SEC. It’s really a blessing. And I just want to be able to do it week in and week out and just keep working.
Makhi Frazier
Frazier and Kewan Lacy, who ran for 122 yards on 16 carries, became the first pair of Rebels to top 100 yards in the same game since Arkansas in 2022. Ole Miss ran for 257 yards; Missouri ran for 39.
“No matter who’s in”
Frazier said having two backs who can carry the load is huge for the team. “I think it’s huge for the team because we can be able to run the ball and know that no matter who’s in, that they’re going to get the job done.”
Asked whether splitting reps adds pressure, he said it works the other way. “Once I see like the other guy is in the rhythm, then that makes me want to be able to get in the rhythm and be able to play good and just play off of him, play off his energy, and keep bringing the same energy that he bring.”
“Eventually the cream will rise to the top”
Frazier had a quiet start to the season before his workload picked up over the last few weeks. His approach, he said, did not change. “Just keep putting in the work, and then eventually the cream will rise to the top.”
Asked where he has improved most since last season, Frazier pointed to discipline. “Just being disciplined on, like, the reads that I need to be disciplined on and, like, within the scheme and stuff and just being able to just really be in more shape this year and hydrated more.”
“He’s going to talk some mess to you”
Frazier was asked what it is like to run when Will Echoles is coming through the gap. The key, he said, is speed of decision: “Just being able to make sure that you make your read really quick because you know he’s going to be able to get off the ball.”
Off the field? “Will is a great dude, man. He’s one of those dudes that you want to be around all the time because he’s going to talk some mess to you, but he’s also going to tell you like what you need to get better on and stuff like that.”
“Whoa, man, like relax”
Frazier said he has picked up pass-protection pointers from Lacy, who “does it at like a really high level.” He also had an honest answer about watching Lacy leap over defenders: “Man, sometimes I’m like, like, whoa, man, like relax. But most of the time it’s exciting to see, pretty cool to see.”
And on Lacy coming back after missing the second quarter against Missouri: “He’s going to be able to go out there and fight with us like no matter, no matter if he’s hurting or if he’s good.”
Ole Miss (5-1, 3-1 SEC) plays at Texas on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Hotty Toddy 🦈
Quotes from Makhi Frazier’s Texas week media availability on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Photo: Makhi Frazier gains yards after the catch against Missouri on Oct. 17. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images