Ole Miss Football: More Rebels Named to National Watchlists

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI – NOVEMBER 16: Jerrion Ealy #9 of the Mississippi Rebels runs with the ball during a game against the LSU Tigers at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 16, 2019 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

A Year For Watchlists

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Every college football preseason Rebels fans see the national watchlists come out. Naturally, fans are used to seeing Rebels being named. However, 2020 seems to be the season when we see it on a large scale. So far there have been a total of five Rebels named to six watchlists and there will likely be more.

We begin with Jerrion Ealy who made his second watchlist for 2020. Ealy who will be entering his sophomore season is projected to have an even better season than 2019. Last season Ealy rushed for 722 yards on 104 carries with 6 TDs while hauling in 20 receptions for 172 yards and 1 TD.

Ealy was also good on special teams averaging 24.4 yards per return with a 94 yard TD. Just one play which added to an amazing 273 all-purpose yards against Southeastern Louisianna. Ealy has illustrated he is an exceptional all-purpose back.

The Hornung Award, named for college and professional legend Paul Hornung, is awarded each season by the Louisville Sports Commission to the most versatile player in college football. Hornung played college football at Notre Dame where he won the Heisman during a losing 1956 senior season (2-8) and became the first pick in the 1957 NFL Draft.

Known as The Golden Boy, Hornung had an incredible career in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. Horning played from 1957 thru 1966 winning four NFL Championships including the first Super Bowl. Hornung finished his NFL career as one of the greatest and his versatility is what did it. Throughout his entire football career, Hornung played a variety of positions that included running back, quarterback, kicker, and safety.