This time a year ago, Mac Pyle was a lineman for a tiny high school team in Georgia.

On Saturday, he might be starting at offensive guard for Vanderbilt when the Commodores visit Ole Miss.

Because of Vandy's great lack of depth on the line, Pyle might be rushed into action as a replacement for right guard Brian Kovolisky, who has a high ankle sprain. Pyle (6-foot-4, 305 pounds) was moved from tackle to guard in yesterday's practice.

''I just asked Kovo, and he says he's going to be ready,'' said Pyle, who played at Adairsville High School. ''If Kovo is ready to go, he'll go. But I'll be happy to step in there and help out.''

Pyle's first action came against Furman two weeks ago when he played two series. He came in on Vandy's last offensive series against Auburn last Saturday.

''The biggest adjustment from high school has been the speed,'' Pyle said. ''The fact that all these guys on defense are our size and they're so much quicker. In high school, those guys were really small. They were quicker than you, but they weren't as big, so it was easy to throw them out of the way.''

No walk-through: For the first time this season, the Commodores won't have a walk-through practice on the road.

The team will practice at the John Rich Football Complex on campus Friday morning, then bus to Memphis. It leaves early Saturday morning for the game, which kicks off at 11:30 a.m.

Flatt redshirting: Former David Lipscomb High quarterback Ethan Flatt is spending the year as a redshirt freshman at Ole Miss. Flatt, who threw for 1,877 yards and 27 TDs in high school, is the son of Steve Flatt, president of Lipscomb University.

Ole Miss punter hurt: The SEC's top punter, Cody Ridgeway of Ole Miss, separated his shoulder against Texas Tech last week and isn't expected to play.

Ridgeway, from Jackson, Tenn., is averaging 46.1 yards on nine punts. Sophomore Wesley Bryan, who never has played in college, will step in for Ridgeway. Also, long snapper A.J. Kiamie is hobbled with a hand injury.

Happy birthday: Ole Miss Coach David Cutcliffe celebrated his 48th birthday Monday. He spent 17 years as an assistant at Tennessee before taking over the Rebels in 1998.

Dolphins watching: A scout from the Miami Dolphins attended yesterday's practice.

Bad grass: A disease has infected areas of the natural grass on the field at Ole Miss' Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The grass has died at different spots on the field, particularly at the south end close to the goal line.

The problem won't likely be corrected before Vanderbilt visits Saturday.

''Something appears to have gotten into the root system,'' Ole Miss Coach David Cutcliffe told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. ''Right now, I'm just hoping it gets back to being playable like it should be.''