Ole Miss Alumni Play Key Roles in AFC Conference Championship

Ole Miss says four alumni saw action in the AFC Conference Championship game, all representing different NFL teams. Offensive lineman Ben Brown of the New England Patriots earned a spot in the Super Bowl, where the Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks.

Brown, who played at St. Aloysius High School in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was the top offensive tackle in Mississippi’s 2017 recruiting class. He earned second-team Small School All-American honors from MaxPreps and first-team All-State by the Clarion Ledger. At Ole Miss, Brown started 34 games from 2018 to 2020. His 2021 season was limited to six starts due to a season-ending surgery.

In the NFL this season, Brown started four games for the Patriots and played every offensive snap he was on the field. His PFF offensive grade of 66.8 ranked third among AFC East guards with at least 300 snaps.

Other Rebels participating in the game included tight end Evan Engram, who caught two passes for 19 yards for the Denver Broncos; defensive tackle D.J. Jones, who tallied six tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two quarterback hits; and wide receiver Elijah Moore, who caught one pass for four yards. Jones’s 1.5 sacks marked a career high, showcasing the Broncos’ pass rush strength.

The AFC Championship game was broadcast on CBS and Paramount+ and streamed on NFL Plus, with the Patriots set to compete in Super Bowl LVIII.

Source: Original Article