OXFORD — He is listed in the program as a 165-pound senior wide receiver. Last Saturday, however, Dexter McCluster entered the Ole Miss record books as having the greatest day a Rebel running back ever had.

McCluster ran through a Tennessee defense that features the top player on ESPN’s Todd McShay’s draft board, free safety Eric Berry. McCluster finished with 282 yards rushing on 25 carries. It was also the most yards a Tennessee team had ever given up to one player in 113 years. McCluster scored four touchdowns on runs of 15, 23, 32 and 71 yards in the Rebels’ 42-17 rout of the Vols at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

McCluster said he felt plenty of motivation to have a standout game against the Vols. He was growing tired of the doubters who had dismissed the Rebels after a disappointing 5-3 start with three losses in Southeastern Conference play.

“After the loss to Auburn, we heard that we wouldn’t be going any where. But we showed we have a lot to play for. That’s what I can say to them now — we’re bowl eligible,” McCluster said.

The Tennessee win gives the Rebels the necessary seven wins they needed to secure a bowl berth. Win two more, including Saturday’s home game against 10th ranked LSU (8-2, 4-2 SEC), and the Rebels (7-3, 3-3) could land a spot in the New Year’s Day Capital One Bowl in Orlando.

To get there, McCluster will need to show the speed he cut up the Vols with. Ole Miss went in with a plan to dial back the offensive arm of Jevan Snead and instead try to win on the legs of McCluster.

“He’s a special player,” Snead said. “He makes people miss. It made it so much easier for me and it helped that we introduced some new some stuff for this week,” said Snead, who has struggled in the passing game. He had another interception against Tennessee to give him 14 for the season, an SEC high.

Rebels offensive coordinator Kent Austin said part of the Rebels’ offensive problems was deciding how to properly use McCluster. He played primarily at receiver and then some in the “Wild Rebel” and then other times at tailback. Against Tennessee, McCluster played almost exclusively at tailback with regular starter Brandon Bolden filling in as the backup.

“He’s really a hybrid running back/wide receiver. But the key was to get him on the edge,” Austin said.

In order to keep from getting busted up after 25 carries, McCluster said he employed a new tactic as well.

“A lot of the times, if the play wasn’t there, I just tried to get low and get something positive. Other times I was able to keep my balance and make a big run. I guess I’m blessed to have some good vision and quick feet,” McCluster said.’

Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said his plan was to hide McCluster behind a bigger, revamped offensive line. The Rebels moved freshman standout Bobby Massey to guard alongside center John Jerry.

“We felt if we could get Dexter to the second level, we had a good chance at some big plays. He just makes things happen. Today we showed, if we don’t stop ourselves, we have a good offense,” Nutt said.

Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin compared McCluster’s game to the one former Southern Cal back Reggie Bush had against Fresno State in 2005 that locked up Bush’s Heisman Trophy.

“He had some highlight reel stuff out there and really took his game to another level, just like Reggie did in 2005. He kind of exposed our defense today. The thing about McCluster is that he is more a true receiver than Reggie is. The guy runs legit receiver routes,” Kiffin said.

Last season, McCluster was the Rebels’ second leading wide receiver in receptions with 44 behind Mike Wallace, who is now catching passes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He capped off his 2008 season by earning the most valuable player award in the 2009 Cotton Bowl as Ole Miss blasted Texas Tech, 47-34 when he rushed for a then, career-high 97 yards and caught six passes for another 83.

“Yeah, I still spend half a practice with the receivers and the other half with the backs,” McCluster said with a smile.

As of now, McCluster is the team’s leading rusher with 775 yards, almost as much as he’s had his first three years combined. He also has another 394 yards receiving on 31 catches.

“Dexter is still a receiver at heart. Lane is right, he runs good routes because he works on them, but not only does he do that, he is probably our best guy in being able to adjust his route,” Austin said.

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Contact Jeff Byrd at jbyrd@vicksburgpost.com