The Flagship: Ole Miss has a few arguments for best CFB players
Ole Miss football is in its second week of preseason practices.
Zach Berry (OMSpirit.com) and Grayson Weir (Bro Bible) have the latest on, inarguably, Lane Kiffin’s most talented Ole Miss team in this, an all-new edition of ‘The Flagship,’ powered by College Corner.
The Rebels, on Monday, were ranked No. 6 nationally by the FBS head coaches, their highest preseason ranking since 2009. They kick off the 2024-25 season in three weeks against Furman.
ESPN also released its Top 10 college football players since 2000. They have some Ole Miss Rebels for your consideration.
“First thing that jumps out to me, if you’re doing any list of top college football players, regardless of the parameters, I find it very difficult not to put Cam Newton No. 1,” Berry said. “My big issues is Baker Mayfield at No. 2.”
Berry would have gone with Vince Young.
But he also doesn’t think Eli Manning is getting enough credit for his 2003 season, when Manning was a finalist for the Heisman.
Same as legendary Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who ESPN included.
“Ole Miss without Eli Manning in 2003 is a terrible team,” Berry said. “He didn’t have elite skill guys (like) other programs like Tim Tebow and what he had to throw to at Florida. Joe Burrow, what he had to throw to at LSU. Baker Mayfield had some studs to throw to.
“What Eli Manning did, the numbers he has alone, I’m pretty sure his numbers still stand for pretty much every category. Still has the most passing yards for a career in Ole Miss history. Over 10,000 passing yards for a career. Only beaten out by Jordan Ta’amu and Chad Kelly for single-season passing yards. He had 84 passing touchdowns. He’s second in total offense.
“The sheer numbers he put up on an Ole Miss team that wasn’t very good? Eli Manning has a definite gripe for at least Top 15. On the other side the ball, Patrick Willis was just enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Dude was incredible in college.”
