NASHVILLE – Jamarious Brown’s part-time life as a wildcat quarterback/offensive weapon in high school finally paid off Saturday afternoon in Nashville.
The 6-foot-1, 305-pound senior defensive tackle from Moss Point was a four-star prospect in the 2023 class for his work on the defensive line. He also rushed for 623 yards and 18 touchdowns in his prep career, showing off the type of athleticism that would make former Rebel JJ Pegues proud. Brown’s moment of truth came about six minutes into the second quarter of Ole Miss’ (4-1, 2-1 SEC) 52-17 blowout win at Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium.
Already leading 14-3 with the ball at the 2-yard line, sixth-year quarterback Trinidad Chambliss faked a handoff in the backfield and rolled a couple steps to his right. He threw a perfectly placed ball over a defender and into the hands of Brown, who high-pointed the ball over his head and secured the first reception and touchdown of his collegiate career.
Brown then proceeded to celebrate with fellow defensive tackle Will Echoles – who was also on the field for the play – by dancing with their backsides together.
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“I jumped, it just came right in my hand,” Brown said. “And I was just like, ‘Wow, I just scored my first touchdown.’”
In a game that featured its share of highlights for the Rebels, Brown’s catch brought a smile to everyone’s face, including head coach Pete Golding’s.
“They always run them versus us. I’m like dude, are we ever going to run these in a game?” Golding, who also calls the Rebels’ defensive plays, said with a laugh. “So, I think the opportunity presented itself as a great design, a great execution. That dude was a hell of an athlete in high school now, wildcat quarterback, tight end. So, he made a heck of a play, man. So, it was awesome.”
Brown, who was a freshman All-American in 2024, has started three games for the Rebels in 2026 and has 63 career-tackles, including six for loss. Sensing his moment to score a touchdown might be on the horizon, he and Echoles made a hasty celebration plan should the ball find Brown’s hands.
“What’s crazy is, we made a celebration … like five minutes before we did it. … They called us from the bench and (were) like, (we’re going) jumbo,” Brown said. “ … And I was like, ‘If we score then, this is what we’re going to do.”
Chambliss, who threw for 213 yards and three touchdowns and added a rushing score in the win, is a fan of getting the big fellas involved when the opportunity presents itself.
“Vandy actually covered it pretty well,” Chambliss said. “The linebacker was underneath it, and then I kind of threw it up. So, it was either JB was going to make a nice catch like he did or it was going to be an incomplete pass. And JB went up and got it, so that’s super cool to see. Love when a big man scores.”
Ole Miss hosts Missouri on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.