Rebel Roundabout: Ole Miss put nation-leading 21 on preseason watchlist for Senior Bowl
Ole Miss has the most players on the preseason watchlist for the Senior Bowl of any team in college football.
A whopping 21 Rebels made the list, which was announced by Reese’s on Thursday. Leading the way was Jaxson Dart, the third-year starter for Ole Miss at quarterback.
Dart is currently tied with the fourth-best odds (14-1) to win the Heisman Trophy in 2024-25. He threw for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions last season. He had 389 yards and eight additional scores on the ground.
“Preparation is meeting opportunity for them,” On3 national analyst JD PicKell said of the Rebels on his ‘Hard Count’ podcast. PicKell placed Ole Miss No. 5 in his preseason Top 25. “Ole Miss, their two-deep on the interior of the defensive line now averages 309 pounds. Translation: they will have run stoppers.
“Offensively, across the o-line, they average 330 pounds. We keep saying, ‘Hey, the SEC, it’s a line-of-scrimmage league.’ Ole Miss, they keep upping the ante on the line of scrimmage. Schedule’s pretty workable. I think they’re a playoff team. I think they’ll be in the SEC Championship, and I think they’re going to be a force here in 2024.
“They’re built for a year like this.”
Dart was joined on the list by running backs Ulysses Bentley, IV, and Logan Diggs; wide receivers Antwane ‘Juice’ Wells, Jr., Tre Harris, and Jordan Watkins; tight end Caden Prieskorn; offensive linemen Jeremy James, Micah Pettus and Gerquan Scott; defensive linemen Jared Ivey, Walter Nolen, JJ Pegues and Princely Umanmielen; linebackers Chris ‘Pooh’ Paul, Jr. and Khari Coleman; and defensive backs Trey Amos, Yam Banks, Isaiah Hamilton, Key Lawrence and Trey Washington.
Senior Bowl Watch List!
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 21, 2024
Ole Miss features the most players in College Football 👀@seniorbowl | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/N1eigFvGHk
OLE MISS ADDS MORE LB DEPTH
Ole Miss continues to add just 10 days out from kickoff.
The Rebels are in their fourth week of preseason camp. Jake Thompson of the Ole Miss Spirit reported after practice on Thursday new to the roster is UTSA linebacker Rodney Groce, Jr.
Groce, Jr., entered the NCAA Transfer Portal in January. Other previous stops include Arizona State, Mississippi State and East Mississippi Community College.
The 6-foot-1, 240-pound Groce, Jr., is a graduate transfer. He had six tackles and a pass break-up in 12 games with UTSA last season. He appears little more than a depth move for the Rebels on the surface. Ole Miss won a program-record 11 games last season and opens against Furman on August 31.
They return Coleman, a starter, as well as second-year breakout candidates TJ Dottery and Suntarine Perkins. Perkins was a freshman All-American.
Ole Miss also landed transfers Raymond Collins and Paul, Jr., in the off-season.
Paul, Jr., was All-SEC at Arkansas. He totaled 137 tackles, 15.0 tackles for loss, six sacks and one forced fumble over three seasons.
“This team feels confident,” Paul, Jr., said following practice earlier this week. “I can feel it on the defense. The coaches put an emphasis on togetherness; we’re embracing it and taking things day by day.
“I’m just so excited to get the season started.”
Groce, Jr., is a former three-star recruit from the 2020 class. He’s originally from from Pleasant Grove, Alabama. On3 ranked Groce, Jr., the nation’s No. 519 overall prospect. He was the No. 35 linebacker.
Groce, Jr., appeared in just one game for Mississippi State over two years. He didn’t record any stats.
