We’re just over a week away from the college football season and multiple Ole Miss players are continuing to be touted ahead of what many are expecting to be a historic campaign for Lane Kiffin and company.
The 2024 preseason coaches All-SEC team was released on Thursday with six Rebels, all of whom transferred to Oxford after suiting up for another collegiate program in the past, featured alongside the top players in the conference.
Ole Miss finished the 2023 season with a historic 11-2 record and a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. Kiffin, known as the “portal king,” took things to the next level and hauled in some of the top transfers nationally as well as a collection of coveted players from the high school ranks to have the Rebels’ roster tailor-made for a run in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.
Preseason Coaches All-SEC Team 🐀☠️#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/jdIOlsW9WN
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) August 22, 2024
The addition of top-tier talent from elsewhere paired with the continuity of a roster that has continued to improve may well have Ole Miss prepared to take the next step up and compete against the juggernauts of the sport.
Rebel players listed on the preseason coaches All-SEC Team can be found below:
First Team
- Tre Harris (wide receiver) — The Louisiana Tech transfer made instant waves in Oxford, logging a program-best four touchdowns in his Rebel debut versus Mercer. Harris went on to log eight total scores and 985 yards in Ole Miss’s winningest season.
- Caden Prieskorn (tight end) — After overcoming early injuries, the Memphis transfer proved to be a valuable asset for Kiffin, a coach notorious for maximizing the tight end position. Prieskorn recorded 449 receiving yards and four touchdowns in 2023. He went on to be honored as an MVP of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl after the Rebels took down Penn State.
- Walter Nolen (defensive tackle) — Arguably the most coveted player in the portal before finding a home in Oxford, Nolen has been given high praise ahead of his debut campaign at Ole Miss. Nolen, during his sophomore campaign at Texas A&M, had 37 tackles and four sacks before jumping ship to play under Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding.
Second Team
- Princely Umanmielen (defensive end) — A superbly athletic edge rusher comes to Ole Miss as one of Kiffin and Golding’s most crucial portal acquisitions, the Florida transfer is expected to blossom as a member of the Ole Miss defense. In 2023, Umanmielen logged 39 total tackles and seven sacks.
Third Team
- Ulysses Bentley IV (running back) — As Ole Miss looks to fill the Quinshon Judkins void, the team will not be left empty-handed as Ulysses Bentley IV is going into his third season as a Rebel after transferring from SMU. Bentley capped the 2023 season averaging 5.7 yards per carry. The speedy running back also showcased his elusiveness and acceleration last year, rushing for 540 yards and four touchdowns.
- Jared Ivey (defensive end) — On what may be the most talented Ole Miss defense in recent history, Ivey is expected to be one of the unit’s most vocal leaders both on and off the field. The big defensive end has been a vital asset to the Rebels since transferring from Georgia Tech two seasons ago. Last year, he recorded 46 total tackles, 5.5 sacks, and two fumble recoveries.
No Mississippi State players were featured on the preseason coaches All-SEC team. Both Ole Miss and Mississippi State kick off the 2024 campaign on August 31.
