NEW: Ole Miss football hands out spring awards

STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS | The Ole Miss football team announced the winners of its spring football awards on Saturday.

The student-athletes will be recognized at the Grove Bowl, which is presented by Mississippi HomeCare. Kickoff is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. CT in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+/SEC Network+ and on the ESPN app.

Gates will open at 1 p.m. CT. Admission is free to the public.

The 2022 Chucky Mullins Courage Award will be handed out during fall camp. That timing will continue moving forward to permit the coaching staff more time to determine the most deserving winner. The award is awarded annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player. The player is to embody the spirit of Mullins in courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.

The Eli Manning Award

WINNER: Ulysses Bentley IV

Presented to the most improved offensive football player based on spring practice performance in the area of spirit, leadership, hustle, determination and dependability.

“My role this year, I just to be a leader for the offense and for the team,” Bentley said earlier this spring. “Go out there and be able to run the ball all day long. I’m just ready and prepared now. I’m ready to go this year.”

The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award

WINNERS: Zxavian Harris and Trey Washington

Presented to the most improved defensive football player based on spring practice performance in the areas of spirit, leadership, hustle, determination and dependability.

“The difference in what I was asked to do last year and this year is to be more versatile and understanding different coverages and how they match with different routes,” Washington said earlier this spring.

“I did pretty good last year, but there is always something to build on from season to season and that’s what I am trying to do – build on my game every day.”

RELATED: The latest intel on an Ole Miss defensive line poised for a big season

The J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award

WINNERS: Caleb Warren and Cedric Johnson

This award is presented annually to a senior Ole Miss offensive lineman. The winner has, in the opinion of his coaches, demonstrated extraordinary courage and unusual compassion in his dedication to his team and Ole Miss.

“We’re just getting a lot of different guys reps so we can develop some depth and versatility,” Warren said this week of the offensive front’s spring work. “A lot of guys are playing two positions in spring to get acclimated to the differences in case they are called on.

“That’s important because you never know about injuries up front. Right now, we have two guys who started last year (Jeremy James and Jayden Williams) out because they are rehabbing offseason surgeries. We need more guys ready in case something happens to one of the top tier guys.”

Park Stevens Memorial Scholarship

WINNERS: Matt Jones and Richard O’Bryant

The Park Stevens Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to the top walk-on of the spring.

The John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence

WINNER: Nick Broeker

Presented to a graduating senior athlete with the qualifications of dedication, scholastic ability, morale and performance.

“I definitely think doing that was a really good decision for me,” Broeker said last month following OleMiss Pro Day. Broeker is expected to be a mid-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft next week.

“I think it helped a lot, and coming out here snapping (Wednesday) as well. I’ve really been putting my best foot forward.”

Birmingham Alumni Club’s annual Leadership Award

WINNER: Jonathan Mingo

This award is a portrait handed in recognition of a graduating senior football player for his displayed qualities of leadership both on and off the field.

“Yeah, I did better than people thought I was going to do,” Mingo said last month of the draft process and Ole Miss Pro Day. “I knew once my body got healthy I knew I could do fast times, show them I could run the whole route tree.

“The (NFL) combine was easy. So today I only had to do cone drills, show them I could do cone drills, and run routes. I’ve been running routes my whole life so I feel like it was a breeze.”

Clower-Walters Scholarship

WINNER: Tavius Robinson

Established in 1974 by Jerry Clower to honor Carl Walters, a veteran Mississippi sportswriter, and a plaque awarded to an outstanding graduating senior Ole Miss football player. Selected by the coaching staff.

National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Awards

WINNERS: Preston Cushman and Jeremiah Dillon