Ole Miss football names Cedric Johnson 2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner
Ole Miss defensive end Cedric Johnson was named the 2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award winner.
Ole Miss football head coach Lane Kiffin announced Johnson as this year’s recipient of the award on Thursday. Johnson will wear a No. 38 patch on his regular No. 2 jersey this season.
Johnson spent last season dealing with a nagging injury that caused him to have offseason surgery and miss spring practices. Since returning to the practice field for fall camp he has become a key part of Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding’s revised scheme on that side of the ball.
Not only an important voice on the field Johnson has become a veteran leader off the field and in the locker room. He has been picked by Kiffin as one of the three players to represent Ole Miss the last two years at the Southeastern Conference Media Days.
“It means a lot to me, to say the least. I honestly can’t even explain how I’m feeling right now,” Johnson said. “It’s an honor to be chosen by the coaches and the players.
“[Chucky] means a lot to everyone here,” Johnson continued. “Just the spirit he carried throughout the whole building, the spirit that he spread onto everyone, just the positive energy that he put on everyone. I feel like I can do that myself, and just bring the positive energy and good spirit to everyone that I touch.”
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The award, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away May 6, 1991.
Johnson was selected from among several veteran defensive players by Kiffin and the Rebel coaching staff. The award is presented annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player that embodies the spirit of Mullins – courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.
Former Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipients are Chris Mitchell, Jeff Carter, Trea Southerland, Johnny Dixon, Alundis Brice, Michael Lowery, Derek Jones, Nate Wayne, Gary Thigpen, Heard, Anthony Magee, Kevin Thomas, Lanier Goethie, Jamil Northcutt, Eric Oliver, Kelvin Robinson, Patrick Willis, Jeremy Garrett, Jamarca Sanford, Marcus Tillman, Kentrell Lockett, Deterrian Shackelford (twice), Jason Jones, Mike Marry, Mike Hilton, John Youngblood, Marquis Haynes, C.J. Moore, Austrian Robinson, Jaylon Jones, Keidron Smith and KD Hill.
