Ole Miss football was well represented on Athlon Sports’ 2023 preseason All-SEC list with six total players headlined by star running back Quinshon Judkins.
Athlon Sports released its annual all-conference team this past Tuesday and six Ole Miss Rebels have earned preseason All-SEC honors for the 2023-24 season.
The list of players from Ole Miss football is headlined by running back Quinshon Judkins who was selected to the first team. The remaining five players were assigned to the third and fourth teams.
Below we will list each player from Ole Miss who was selected, first up, one of college football’s best-returning players, Judkins.
Quinshon Judkins, running back
After going for 1,567 rushing yards on 274 carries and 16 touchdowns as a true freshman in 2022 Judkins will be one of the best running backs in college football this coming season.
After being named the SEC Freshman of the Year this past season he has also been named a Top 15 player in college football heading into the 2023 season. To add to his list of accumulating accolades, Judkins was named a preseason All-American by ESPN as well.
Cedric Johnson, defensive end
Selected to the third team, last year for the Rebels Johnson appeared in 11 games where he recorded 32 total tackles with four sacks and a fumble recovery. The 6’3. 265-pound pass rusher is poised to have a breakout season in Oxford this coming year.
Michael Trigg, tight end
Also selected to the third team, Michael Trigg had an underwhelming season for Ole Miss football last year after transferring in from USC with quarterback Jaxson Dart. He posted 17 receptions for 156 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his first season in Oxford.
Trigg only played in seven total games this past year due to ongoing injury issues but was still named to the 2022 John Mackey Award watchlist. Trigg was selected to this list instead of transfer tight end Caden Prieskorn, who was named a top-10 tight end in the country by Pro Football Focus earlier this month.
Jeremy James, offensive line
James joins Johnson and Trigg as a third team selection. He started 10 games for the Rebels last year, most of them coming at right guard but also notched a few starts at right tackle. James isn’t new to this list, as he was selected to Athlon’s 2022 Preseason All-SEC Second Team last year.
A versatile lineman who has proven he can play in any spot, he brings a veteran presence to an offensive line that helped pave the way for one of college football’s best rushing attacks a season ago.
Deantre Prince, defensive back
Deantre Prince was selected to the publication’s fourth team. Last year the Charleston, Mississippi native recorded 39 tackles and one interception in 13 total games played.
Micah Pettus, offensive line
The second offensive lineman for the Rebels on this list, Pettus was the last selection for Ole Miss football also on the fourth team. As a redshirt freshman Pettus started eight games for the Rebels last season, seven of them at right tackle and one at center.
With a year of experience as a freshman under his belt, the sophomore should fill in nicely in a full-time starting role on the Rebels’ offensive line in 2023.