re: Ole Miss fans...tell me about Jon Sumrall

Jon Sumrall, a three-year letterman at Kentucky, was hired Jan. 22, 2018 as Ole Miss' linebackers coach.

Sumrall helped lead nationally-ranked defenses at Tulane and Troy, where he spent the past three seasons as assistant head coach working primarily with linebackers and serving as special teams coordinator.

For the second straight season, the Troy defense was tops in both the Sun Belt and NCAA in multiple defensive categories on its way to a school-record 11 wins in 2017. The Troy defense ranked first in the nation in red zone defense (.614), second in tackles for loss per game (8.6), seventh in rushing defense (105.3), 11th in scoring defense and 24th in total defense per game (336.6).

Sumrall oversaw a Troy special teams that ranked second in the country with 27.71 yards per return and had a freshman All-American return specialist in Marcus Jones.

Sumrall joined the Troy staff after spending the previous three seasons as the co-defensive coordinator at Tulane. In his first season at Tulane, Sumrall's defensive line accounted for 27.5 tackles for loss, including 13.5 sacks, recorded 11 quarterback hurries, forced four fumbles and recovered two.

In addition to ranking among the nation's best in forcing turnovers, Sumrall's 2013 defense finished 22nd nationally in total defense (352.1), 13th in sacks per game (2.92) and 11th in red zone defense (73.5 percent). That season he was named a finalist for FootballScoop Defensive Line Coach of the Year along with coaches from Michigan State, Stanford and Missouri.

Prior to his arrival at Tulane, Sumrall spent five seasons in various positions at the University of San Diego, including as the defensive coordinator during his final two seasons. He spent his first three seasons as the defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and camp coordinator before assuming the defensive coordinator and linebackers coaching role in 2010. During his final season with the Toreros, Sumrall was promoted to assistant head coach.

Sumrall was a three-year letterman at middle linebacker for Kentucky from 2002-04. He started every game as a senior and led the Wildcats with 72 tackles. Sumrall was a two-time all-state performer and a four-year letterman at Grissom High School in Huntsville, Alabama.

Sumrall completed his bachelor's degree in finance in 2005 and has completed coursework on a master's degree in sports leadership.

Sumrall is married to the former Ginny Nixon of Huntsville, and the couple has 4-year-old twins, Samuel George and Sadie Gayle, and a daughter, Stella (1).