Skip to main content
Ole Miss

Carneiro, Perkins highlight strong showing for Ole Miss in preseason awards

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•06/26/25•

SpiritBen

GZASTc3WcAAf-kQ
Ole Miss EDGE Suntarine Perkins (Photo credit: Ole Miss Football/X)

Ole Miss football this week had two players honored as preseason All-Americans and five as All-SEC by Phil Steele.

The Rebels in the off-season signed Western Kentucky placekicker Lucas Carneiro as the replacement for Caden Davis. Carneiro was the preseason CUSA Special Teams Player of the Year, and later a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award. Three times in 2024-25 Carneiro was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Week.

Carneiro made 26 of 30 field goals in his two seasons with the Hilltoppers, including a long of 54. All he lacks is a kickoff leg, per sources. He was 18 for 19 last year and 6 for 6 from 50-plus. He made all of his extra-point attempts and all nine of his attempts from 40-plus. Carneiro chose Ole Miss over Oklahoma and others.

He was named a third-team All-American, while Perkins was on the fourth team. Carneiro was also first-team All-SEC. Perkins was second team, followed by wide receiver Cayden Lee and tight end Dae’Quan Wright on the third team and linebacker TJ Dottery on the fourth team.

Carneiro should be in good hands with Ole Miss special teams coordinator Jake Schoonover.

“He’s probably my favorite coach I’ve had since I started playing sports,” Davis previously told the Ole Miss Spirit. “I’ve only ever had one other, from Texas A&M. The biggest difference is he actually listens to us.”

Perkins was picked as a second-team All-American by Athlon earlier this week. He’s also a projected first-rounder in the 2026 NFL Draft by CBS. 

Perkins played in all 13 games (200 snaps) for the Rebels and started eight — all at defensive end. 

He helped anchor the best rush defense in the nation and one of the best defenses in Ole Miss history.

Ole Miss set new school records for tackles for loss (120) and sacks (52). The Rebels led the nation — and Perkins tied for the team lead — in both categories. He had 10.5 sacks and 14 TFLs. He was fourth in total tackles (60) and added nine quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and an interception.

“Though Perkins had shoulder surgery in January, he’ll be full-go by the fall,” On3’s Ari Wasserman wrote, also naming Perkins a preseason All-American. “What does full-go look like for opposing offenses? Torture. Though he doesn’t have the size as a typical linebacker, Perkins flies all over the field. Last year he had 14 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks. If he gets better next year — which he will — he’s going to be one of the biggest defensive stars in the sport.”

Perkins will anchor an overhauled Ole Miss defense. The Rebels lost, among others, leading tackler Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, shutdown cornerback Trey Amos, defensive tackles Walter Nolen and JJ Pegues and defensive ends Princely Umanmielen and Jared Ivey. 

Nolen was the first Rebel selected in the 2025 NFL Draft. He was taken in the first round (No. 17) by the Arizona Cardinals. 

Ole Miss is still plenty talented. 

TJ Dottery finished second only to Paul in tackles. Ole Miss is high on its second-year crop of defensive linemen: Kam Franklin, William Echoles and others. The Rebels have also brought back veteran defensive tackles Zxavian Harris and Jamarious Brown.

They signed a pair of Top 10 EDGE transfers in Da’Shawn Womack (LSU) and Princewill Umanmielen (Nebraska).

You may also like