Ole Miss is off to a 5-0 start to the season after its 22-19 win against Kentucky this past Saturday.

The Rebels have risen to No. 9 in the AP Poll and will look to move to 6-0 at Vanderbilt on Saturday.

One of the surprise stories for Ole Miss this season has been freshman running back Quinshon Judkins.

Heading into the season, most expected TCU transfer Zach Evans to be the Rebels’ top RB option.

Evans, a former 5-star recruit, has played well. But he has been limited by injury the last 2 weeks.

Judkins, meanwhile, was an unheralded 3-star recruit. He was rated as the No. 562 overall prospect in the 2022 recruiting class by the 247Sports composite.

Through 5 games, however, he has 85 carries for 535 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin spoke about Judkins during Wednesday’s SEC coaches teleconference.

“I think you never know what’s going to happen with freshmen once they get there and once they play in games,” Kiffin said. “… That’s always kind of a roll the dice as to what’s really going to happen, otherwise every 5-star freshman would be great. … (Judkins) has ultra-unique vision and great body and balance control. Just a great kid who was raised really well.”

On the other side of the ball this Saturday will be another impressive freshman.

Vanderbilt quarterback AJ Swann, who enrolled at the school in January, has moved into the starter’s role and played well for the Commodores.

“For a guy to be that young and play that well and take care of the ball well and not make mistakes, especially at that position, it’s very impressive.” — said Kiffin when asked about Swann on Wednesday.

Ole Miss’ game at Vanderbilt on Saturday will kick off at 4 p.m. (ET) and be televised by the SEC Network. The Rebels are currently 17-point favorites.