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OXFORD, Miss. -- Of the four main players from Mississippis talented 2013 recruiting class, three of them are now millionaires.Then theres safety Tony Conner.Hed likely be in the NFL right now -- along with defensive lineman Robert Nkemdiche, receiver Laquon Treadwell and offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil -- if it hadnt been for a major knee injury against Alabama last season that caused him to miss more than half of his junior year.Now hes back in Oxford while his former teammates are getting ready to play on Sundays. He insists hes OK with that.On draft night I watched and it was kind of crazy at first, Conner said. But I still salute those guys. God has a reason for everything.Conners recovery from the torn meniscus in his right knee has been tougher than initially expected. The injury happened in the teams win over the Crimson Tide in September, but the hope was he would have surgery and return in about 4-6 weeks.Conner came back for two games in November -- against Arkansas and LSU -- but it was clear he wasnt the same. He was shut down for the rest of the season and had another surgery.Conner said he feels about 90 percent and thats hes progressing each day and will be ready when the 11th-ranked Rebels face No. 4 Florida State on Monday in Orlando, Florida.Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze said Conner has handled the career setback as well as possible. The safety grew up about 25 miles from the Ole Miss campus in Batesville, so hes had plenty of family and friends close by to provide support.Hes got a great mom who keeps him grounded and hes just a guy who loves to play the game, Freeze said. I think, really, that Tony would stay at Ole Miss for 10 years if he could because hes just a country boy who loves to be at home. But hell get his opportunity in the NFL.If the 6-foot-0, 225-pound senior is close to his former self this year, the Rebels will receive a huge boost for their defense. The hard-hitter -- who often plays in the hybrid safety/linebacker role that the Rebels use in their 4-2-5 defense -- had 69 tackles as a sophomore in 2014 and led all SEC defensive backs with nine tackles for a loss.But players and coaches said the leadership he provides is at least just as important.Tony is a grown man back there and thats what I love about him, Ole Miss defensive lineman Breeland Speaks said. Hes going to play his heart out every time. Thats what you get with Tony. Any time you have a player like that with talent -- like first-round NFL talent -- you cant go wrong.Freeze said the Rebels mid-season swoon last year -- which included losses to Florida to Memphis -- was in part because the defense was a little lost without Conner.It took us three games last year to figure out how to play without him, Freeze said.Freeze said hed like to limit Conners snaps early in the season, but he might not have that luxury. The Rebels go into the game with several young players at safety following the departure of seniors Mike Hilton and Trae Elston.He is a leader, he understands the game, hes physical, Freeze said. Hes just a football player so I think him at 90 percent makes us a lot better.-----Follow David Brandt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/davidbrandtAP Cheap Nike Shoes Australia .J. Ellis hit two-run homers and the NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 Saturday night. Cheap Shoes Australia . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. http://www.wholesalenikeshoesaustralia.com/ . But when it comes to determining if Raymond will find a place on the Leafs roster when training camp concludes in a week, well, that decision will ultimately fall to the head coach. Clearance Nike Shoes Australia . 10 Texas Rangers jersey for one last time. Young formally announced his retirement Friday after returning to Rangers Ballpark, his baseball home for all but the last of his 13 major league seasons. Wholesale Authentic Shoes Australia .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands -- Sebastian Saiz scored a career-high 26 points and added 12 rebounds, and Mississippi advanced to the Paradise Jam championship game with an 81-68 victory over Saint Josephs on Sunday.Deandre Burnett added 20 points, and Cullen Neal and Rasheed Brooks had 11 each for the Rebels (4-0), who pushed a 41-37 halftime lead to as many as 16 points in the second half.We were giving up a lot of free opportunities in the last game (a 95-88 overtime win over Oral Roberts on Friday), Saiz said. We used the mentality of `nothing free tonight. I knew they were going to try to double-team me, but I was ready for it. I knew they werent going to be able to stop me.Shavar Newkirk scored 21 points, Charlie Brown had 13 and Lamarr Kimble 10 for the Hawks (3-1), who led twice in the first half, the last at 28-24 on Chris Clovers 3-pointer with 8:56 left.But Mississippi responded with a 15-5 run over the next five minutes, with Browns 3-pointer with 3:54 remaining giving the Rebels a 39-33 lead, their biggest of the half.Mississippis biggest lead came in the final six minutes, with Justa Furmanavicius tippping in a missed Burnett layup for a 73-57 margin with 5:26 left.ddddddddddddWe had too many missed plays, said Saint Josephs coach Phil Martelli, whose team was 10 of 22 from the free throw line Sunday. We had to keep them off the glass, and didnt do that. But it was our foul shooting -- we started off 0-for-6 to start the half, and we cant be in those situations.BIG PICTURESaint Josephs: Even with the loss, the Hawks are off to their best start since the 2005-2006 season, when they also opened 3-1. Saint Josephs went on to finish 19-14 that season.Mississippi: The Rebels are trying to win their first regular-season tournament since 2014, when Ole Miss won the Emerald Coast Classic title. It would also be the Rebels first title in a Carribean tournament since taking the 2007 San Juan Shootout.UP NEXTSaint Josephs: Will play the loser between N.C. State and No. 22 Creighton in the third-place game Monday.Mississippi: Will face the N.C. State-Creighton winner in the championship game Monday. ' ' '