OXFORD – Once upon a time the game plan for Dexter McCluster was smoke and mirrors. It was screens, reverses and Wild Rebel.

When Ole Miss takes on No. 10 LSU Saturday with a potential Capital One Bowl bid on the line, the plan has changed.

Now it’s “Stop him if you can.”

In the beginning Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt liked his weapons on offense enough to use McCluster as a specialty back. But when the Rebels were inconsistent over the first half of the season he knew McCluster had to have a greater impact.

“I thought we would be fine using Dexter on screens and reverse and those things,” Nutt said after McCluster rushed for 123 yards in the Rebels’ 30-17 win over Arkansas on Oct. 24.

McCluster the specialty back rushed for only 164 yards through the first six games, at times held out of non-SEC games for health preservation, at times just not getting the ball.

In his last three SEC games the 5-9, 170-pound senior from Largo, Fla., has rushed for 591 yards. He is fifth in the SEC in rushing yards with 755 and leads the league in yards per carry at 7.06.

After flirting with 300 rushing yards in last week’s 42-17 win over Tennessee, McCluster caught the attention of the nation.

“It’s hard to trick these guys in the SEC. These defensive coordinators are very good at what they do,” Nutt said.

But so is McCluster, and his 282-yard effort against the Vols was aided by an offensive line adjustment.

Nutt says he’ll stay with 6-foot-6, 317-pound freshman Bobby Massie at right tackle. The insertion of Massie moved senior John Jerry inside to guard. The Rebels gained strength and athleticism on the right side in the process.

“It gives us guys who can move the pile,” Nutt said. “We ran the same plays. We did a good job of coming off the ball and giving Dex a chance.”

McCluster was in Tennessee’s end zone enough to need a postal change of address kit, scoring on runs of 15, 23, 32 and 71 yards.

LSU has allowed 126.9 rushing yards a game, fourth in the SEC. Where the Tigers have been most impressive is their stinginess in giving up points.

Their 13.7 points a game average ranks third in the SEC, 10th in the nation.

“I’ve watched a lot of his film just in the last 24 to 48 hours, and I can just tell you that he has great speed. He anticipates the cut. He’s tough to touch, and he’s a physical runner as well. He’ll pound it up in there, so he’s a very talented runner,” LSU coach Les Miles said.

Miles is also familiar with sophomore Brandon Bolden, a Baton Rouge native, the Rebels’ starter at tailback earlier this season.

Miles recruited Bolden but didn’t recruit him to run the football which was something he wanted very much.

Nutt has always liked Bolden’s ability to catch out of the backfield, and the emergence of McCluster has Bolden’s role evolving into something of an H-back, a hybrid fullback with speed and power for short yardage and red zone play and a capable blocker too.

Bolden scored the other two touchdowns at Tennessee on runs of 1 and 4 yards.

“No problem with me,” Bolden said. “If I’m throwing a block, my block might be the one that springs Dexter. When I line up, I know my guy’s not going to make the tackle. That’s my No. 1 goal.”

McCluster had not exactly kept a low profile anyway, but after four touchdowns against Tennessee and national and SEC player of the week honors, he’s had a hectic week.

“People I don’t even know have come up and talk to me, congratulate me. I’m walking down the street, and people blow the horn and yell my name,” he said.

Having sizzling success without deception, McCluster takes his increased attention as a true tailback should – in stride.

“I know that little kids look up to me, and that keeps me on track. I want to show them how the Lord has been a blessing in my life and to be that positive role model wherever I can.”

Contact Parrish Alford at 678.1600 or parrish.alford@djournal.com