Trinidad Chambliss isn’t the only Ole Miss star the Hurricanes must account for

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

The Hurricanes’ season marches on in the playoffs, and they have another massive test ahead of them: No. 6 Ole Miss in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl on Thursday night.

Although the Rebels went 11-1 in the regular season, few gave them a shot to advance deep into the playoffs after coach Lane Kiffin bolted for LSU following the team’s regular-season finale. But Ole Miss beat Tulane and upset Georgia to punch their ticket to the semifinals.

Here are five standout Ole Miss players to watch:

Trinidad Chambliss, quarterback

Chambliss has been one of college football’s best stories this year. Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss from Division II power Ferris State and started the year as Austin Simmons’ backup. But when Simmons (a South Florida native and Sun Sentinel All-County selection) suffered an ankle injury, Chambliss took over and never looked back.

The dual-threat quarterback is sixth in the nation with 3,660 passing yards and a 66.4 completion percentage. He has thrown 21 touchdowns with only three interceptions. Chambliss also has 520 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on the ground. Pro Football Focus gives Chambliss an 88.7 offensive grade, which is 11th nationally among quarterbacks with 100 or more dropbacks.

Chambliss is difficult to beat, but the key for Miami will be to get consistent pressure on him. Like essentially all quarterbacks, he gets worse when defenses pressure him. His completion percentage drops from 68.7 when kept clean to 54.5 when pressured, according to Pro Football Focus. But being under pressure does not make him likely to turn the ball over; Chambliss has no interceptions and only one turnover-worthy play when under pressure, according to PFF.

Chambliss is good at avoiding sacks, with 13.8 percent of pressures turning into sacks. That ranks 25th out of 88 Power 4 quarterbacks with 30 or more pressured dropbacks. Miami will have to get in his face — like it did with Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed and Ohio State’s Julian Sayin — and turn those pressures into sacks.

Kewan Lacy, running back

Lacy has been one of the nation’s top running backs. The sophomore is third in the nation with 1,464 rushing yards and has racked up 23 rushing touchdowns, which is second nationally.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound back is difficult to bring down. He has forced 88 missed tackles, which is the third most in the nation, per PFF.

Lacy, an All-SEC first-team pick, offers variety in the running game. He has done well at running between and outside the tackles — but he has excelled at the former. When running between the tackles, he is averaging 5.7 yards. When he runs outside the tackles, he averages  4.3 yards. But Lacy can break off explosive runs either way; he has 19 runs of 10 or more yards outside the tackles and 18 between the tackles.

Harrison Wallace III, wide receiver

Wallace has been on this stage before. He reached the semifinals last year when he was at Penn State. Wallace was a standout with the Nittany Lions, but he has been even better at Ole Miss.

Wallace leads the team with 894 receiving yards, and he has caught four touchdown passes. PFF gives him a 78.4 receiving grade, which is the best on the Rebels. Wallace had his best game of the year against Georgia, racking up 156 yards and a touchdown on nine catches.

Wallace is a quality receiver who can attack each level of a defense. But he is just one part of a multifaceted Ole Miss passing attack. The Rebels have five pass-catchers with 500 or more yards.

Princewill Umanmielen, defensive end

Umanmielen is Ole Miss’ most dangerous pass rusher. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound junior has 41 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and a team-leading eight sacks.

The third-team All-SEC pick was fourth in the conference with 47 pressures, so offensive tackles Francis Mauigoa and Markel Bell will have their hands full with the standout end.

Umanmielen is a strong pass rusher, but the Hurricanes have seen other skilled defensive ends, like Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell and Ohio State’s Caden Curry. UM has allowed just four sacks against two of the nation’s best defenses in this year’s postseason.

Will Echoles, defensive tackle

Echoles, a third-team All-SEC interior lineman, plays a key role in Ole Miss’ run and pass defense. The sophomore lineman has 62 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks this season.

PFF gives Echoles an 85.1 run-defense grade, which is sixth in the SEC this season. He is credited with a conference-leading 27 run stops.

The 6-foot-3, 310-pound Echoles will be tough to move, but the Hurricanes were able to get the run game going against a stronger run-defense front in Ohio State.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos