Several Ole Miss players have landed on preseason award watchlists, including Tre Harris, Princely Umanmielen, and Ulysses Bentley IV. Quarterback Jaxson Dart and defensive tackle Walter Nolen have landed on multiple watchlists, with both making another one yesterday.
Walter Nolen makes Lombardi Award Watch List
Walter Nolen made his fourth watch list of the preseason, this time making the Lombardi Award Watch List. The Lombardi Award is presented annually to the most outstanding lineman in college football.
Nolen was among 90 college football linemen to make the award, with Mason Graham (Michigan), Parker Brailsford (Alabama), and Harold Perkins Jr. (LSU) being three stand-out names who joined Nolen on the watch list.
Jaxson Dart makes Manning Award Watch List
Quarterback Jaxson Dart made the Manning Award Watch List yesterday, an award with sentimental ties to the program with Eli Manning, a former Ole Miss quarterback. Just like Nolen, it was Dart's fourth preseason watch list that he made.
The Manning Award is presented annually. The decision is made after the postseason, taking those games into account. The winner is selected by a committee that includes Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning.
Will Ole Miss have an end-of-season award winner in 2024?
Ole Miss has not seen a legitimate end-of-season award winner since 2014 when linebacker Deterrian Shackelford won the Wuerffel Trophy. Patrick Willis, Eli Manning, and Jonathan Nichols are the other recent winners, all before 2014.
The 2024 season could be the most significant chance since 2014 to change that. With the expectations that Ole Miss could have a successful season, several players could likely have elite seasons. Jaxson Dart has a big chance to do just that. If he can take a considerable step again, he should be in the conversation for an end-of-season quarterback award.
Wide receiver Tre Harris is a dark horse for the Biletnikoff Award, and it would not be a surprise to see him in the final three at the least. All this talk excites you for the season, with the buzz around the Rebels hard to reign in for fans. Just over two weeks till all that excitement can burst out.