Wearing Deuce McAllister’s old No. 22 jersey, Ole Miss’ Dexter McCluster set a new standard for Rebel runners during a 42–17 win over Tennessee.

The 5’8”, 170-pound senior from Largo, Fla., had 25 carries for 282 yards and four scores on the ground, with four catches for 42 yards — giving McCluster 324 all-purpose yards on the day.

In the process, McCluster broke McAllister’s Ole Miss record for all-purpose yards (317 vs. Arkansas in 1999) and Dou Innocent’s Rebel rushing yards mark (242 vs. Miss. State in 1995), while also establishing a new low for the Vols’ run defense, whose previous worst was 217 yards allowed to both Colorado’s Mike Pritchard (1990) and Alabama’s Bobby Humphrey (1986).

“He is special. He can make the first one miss. He has game-breaking speed. As you can see, he won’t just run out of bounds on a long run. He’ll cut back against the grain and separate to get in the end zone,” said Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who has tailored his “Wild Rebel” offense specifically for McCluster since arriving from Arkansas — where he ran the “Wild Hog” with Darren McFadden and Felix Jones.

“He’s fun to watch.”

With “Run DMC” signs in the Oxford crowd, McCluster looked like the old school trio — who teamed with Aerosmith for a groundbreaking rap-rock cover of “Walk This Way” in 1986 — by collaborating with the UT defense to “Run This Way” for touchdowns covering 15, 23, 32 and 71 yards.

McCluster was recruited by current Tennessee defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who returned to Ole Miss for the first time since being replaced following the 2007 season. But Coach O could only watch while his former star signee torched his current D-line, as the Rebels defeated the Vols for the first time since 1983.

“He’s a really unique talent. I watched him run up and down, and I can’t tell you how many times I looked at (recruiting coordinator, assistant coach Ed) Orgeron and said, ‘Get us one of those,’” said Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, who lost three freshmen to a scandalous suspension earlier this week before enduring a 25-point loss.

The Ole Miss offense did account for 492 total yards (359 rushing, 133 passing) and six total touchdowns to dominate time of possession 34:11-to-25:49. But for anyone who watched McCluster today, including his awestruck teammates, there is no doubt the one-man dreadlocked demolition derby was the key to victory.

“He was like Superman,” said Rebs receiver Shay Hodge.

After disappointing losses at South Carolina (16–10), Alabama (22–3) and at Auburn (33–20), the Rebels could still put together a respectable season with a strong finish against LSU (Nov. 21) next week and at Mississippi State (Nov. 28) in the Egg Bowl.

Bedeviled Blues

One day after Duke lost the top basketball recruit in the nation — Skyping small forward Harrison Barnes — to Tobacco Road rival North Carolina, the Blue Devils football team was unable to pull off a major ACC upset against Georgia Tech.

After jumping out to a 10–0 lead, coach David Cutcliffe’s club allowed 49 unanswered points to the Yellow Jackets, who clinched the ACC’s Coastal Division title and a spot in the ACC Championship Game on Dec. 5 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

With a relatively balanced offensive attack, the Ramblin’ Wreck rushed for 306 yards — with star back Jonathan Dwyer going for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries — and threw for 213 yards — with quarterback Josh Nesbitt completing 6-of-10 passes for 195 yards, two scoring strikes and zero interceptions.

Georgia Tech will now await the winner of the ACC’s Atlantic Division. A win in the ACC title game would send the Yellow Jackets to only their sixth Orange Bowl ever and their first trip since 1967.

Triple Threat

Clemson is the favorite to win the ACC’s Atlantic Division, while running back C.J. Spiller is establishing himself as a potential Heisman Trophy contender.

During a 43–23 win at NC State, Spiller was a triple-threat weapon — with 18 carries for 97 yards and a 16-yard trip to the end zone, three receptions for 48 yards and a 34-yard scoring grab, and a 17-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Dye.

“I got a lot of grief on the sideline because (the pass) was a duck,” joked Spiller, who has completed 2-of-3 passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns in his career.