Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, left, runs past Louisville linebacker C.J. Avery during the season opener in Orlando, Fla. Smith leads Alabama with 176 receiving yards through two games this season.
Jerry Jeudy
Henry RuggsThe talented Ole Miss receivers are occasionally referred to as Nasty Wide Outs, or NWO for short.
Senior DaMarkus Lodge, junior A.J. Brown and sophomore D.K. Metcalf headline the aerial attack of coach Matt Luke's Rebels, but that isn't the only touted trio of receivers eager to perform Saturday night when top-ranked Alabama visits Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
The Crimson Tide will have their own receivers trio with Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and DeVonta Smith, and they're only sophomores.
Smith leads Alabama with 176 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions after routs of Louisville, 51-14, and Arkansas State, 57-7. Jeudy has a team-high eight catches for 151 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, while Ruggs has five catches for 71 yards and a score.
"They're all very competitive, and they can all beat man-to-man coverage," Alabama coach Nick Saban said Wednesday night in a news conference. "They all have really good speed and can get in and out of breaks. I don't think one is significantly different from the other.
"I think they're all conscientious guys who work hard in practice."
They have been complemented by freshman Jaylen Waddle, who has four catches for 75 yards in two games.
Jeudy, Ruggs and Smith were huge factors as freshmen in Alabama's 26-23 overtime victory over Georgia in January's national championship game. Ruggs had three catches for 29 yards and a touchdown, Jeudy had a 20-yard reception and Smith hauled in the 41-yard game-winner from Tua Tagovailoa in overtime.
"We've worked hard with them to become more physical players and better blockers on the perimeter," Saban said, "and I think they've made improvements in that area."
Alabama practiced in full pads for two hours Wednesday.
Kicking change
Redshirt freshman Joseph Bulovas, who made all five of his extra-point attempts last Saturday against Arkansas State after replacing graduate transfer Austin Jones, will be Alabama's starting kicker at Ole Miss.
Jones, who transferred from Temple, missed two of his three extra-point attempts against the Red Wolves and also missed an extra point against Louisville.
Bulovas also kicked a 39-yard field goal against Arkansas State.
"He's done well all week," Saban said, "and I think he's confident. That's the plan moving forward."
Unusual sighting
Saban admitted in the news conference that he witnessed something a bit bizarre last Saturday evening.
"I saw Michigan State get in a huddle the other night when I was watching them play (at Arizona State)," Saban said. "I think that's the first team I've seen get in a huddle in college football since the flood."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.