Skip to main content
ole-miss logo

Ole Miss at the NFL Combine: Dart could be third first-round QB; Paul continues climb

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•about 9 hours•

SpiritBen

GkuOF5hXIAAvHhm copy
Ole Miss linebacker Chris 'Pooh' Paul (Photo credit: Matt Barrows/X)

Ole Miss football has a program-record 11 players in Indianapolis, Indiana, this week for the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Ole Miss is tied for the fifth-most invitees in college football. The Rebels are one of just three schools sending three wide receivers: Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins and Juice Wells. 

Record-setting quarterback Jaxson Dart has already announced he’ll throw in front of coaches, scouts and executives, unlike Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. On-field workouts are set for Thursday, February 27 through Sunday, March 2.

Quarterbacks will get their turn on Saturday.

“He’s been electric,” NFL Network draft analyst Peter Schrager said of Dart. “The last two years (Ole Miss) went 11-2 and 10-3 and Jaxson Dart was the quarterback in a loaded SEC. This guy put up huge, huge numbers. He’s got the build and the size. I’ve long been a Jaxson Dart fan. 

“You talk about (Cam) Ward and Sanders and then this big drop-off. I don’t see it that way. Dart could be your third first-round quarterback.”

Dart is one of FIVE first-round possibilities for the Rebels. 

The program record is three set in 2016 with Laremy Tunsil, Robert Nkemdiche and Laquon Treadwell. At least four Rebels have already received at least one first-round projection since the season ended.

Dart is joined by Ole Miss defensive linemen Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen, Jared Ivey and cornerback Trey Amos. Amos has completed, or scheduled, formal interviews with the Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, Washington Commanders, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets.

Nolen is the most likely bet for the first round. However, he won’t participate in field drills this week. He’s met with the San Francisco 49ers, among others.

“That might be one of the best defensive tackles I’ve ever seen play with his mix of pass rush and run-game ability,” Umanmielen said of Nolen. Nolen previously compared his game to retired NFL great Aaron Donald. “His natural explosiveness and strength is crazy.”

Umanmielen had a formal interview with the Arizona Cardinals on Wednesday. 

He’s met with the Cowboys, too. 

Defensive linemen will head to the drill field at Lucas Oil Stadium on Thursday. All 32 NFL teams are represented at the Combine. The draft will take place April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Ole Miss hasn’t had a first-round quarterback since Eli Manning in 2004. Tight end Evan Engram was the last Rebel first-rounder in general.

Umanmielen measured in at 6-foot-4, 264 pounds. He’s ranked as the draft’s seventh-best EDGE by NFL’s NextGen Stats.

“If you ask me, I think I”m the best to be honest,” Umanmielen said, when asked who he considers the top EDGE in the draft. “I think I stack up with anybody. As far as pass-rushing goes, I feel like I can get to a quarterback more efficiently and faster and better than anybody.”

Versatile defensive lineman JJ Pegues will participate in both defense AND offense drills.

He’ll work out with Umanmielen and others on Thursday before going through tight end workouts on Friday. 

Pegues had 126 tackles, 29 tackles for loss and 10 sacks over his five-year college career, which also included a stop at Auburn. He was utilized as a short-yardage running back at Ole Miss, too. Pegues carried 32 times for 100 yards and scored seven rushing touchdowns.

“There aren’t too many players who do what I do — going from d-line to offense and actually running the ball,” Pegues said. “It will help out a lot.”

The other Rebels at the combine are linebacker Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul and running back Ulysses Bentley, IV. Paul is a top-two-round candidate as well.

“Someone who is very passionate, knows how to face adversity, a field general, and someone who can play sideline to sideline,” Paul said, when asked what an NFL team will be getting in the former Arkansas Razorback.

Paul led Ole Miss in tackling in his only season. The Rebels won 10 games for the third time in four years.

You may also like