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Rebel teammates rally as missing Ole Miss RB John Avery is found safe

Ben Garrettby: Ben Garrett05/17/25SpiritBen
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Ole Miss RB John Avery (Photo credit: USA Today Images)

Former Ole Miss running back John Avery has been located by one of his one-time Rebel teammate after being listed for two weeks as a missing person in Florida.

Romaro Miller — one of the most decorated quarterbacks in Ole Miss history, and the predecessor to Eli Manning as a Rebel — posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that Avery had been contacted and located by Sheldon Morris. 

Morris was a three-year (1997-99) wide receiver for the Rebels.

“I am pleased to share some excellent news,” Morris wrote on Facebook. “I just received a message from John regarding the matter at hand. Additionally, I have informed [the] Port Orange Police Department of the situation. 

“I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the tremendous support and assistance from everyone involved. Thank you all for your efforts.”

Avery was believed to be in the Daytona Beach area.

Port Orange announced him missing on Friday, May 16.

Avery played two seasons (1996 and 1997) at Ole Miss. He was a team captain as a senior, when Avery led the Rebels with 862 rushing yards on 166 carries. He scored seven touchdowns. 

The Rebels, under then-head coach Tommy Tuberville (now a United State Senator), finished 8-4, including a win over NFL Hall of Famer Randy Moss and the Marshall Thundering Heard in the Motor City Bowl.

Avery was a first-round (No. 29 overall) NFL Draft selection of the Miami Dolphins. He lasted just one season, rushing for 503 yards and two touchdowns with five fumbles. The Dolphins traded Avery to the Denver Broncos for wide receiver Marcus Nash, drafted just one spot after Avery in 1998.

Avery finished with five carries for Denver in the 1999 season. The Broncos released Avery the following training camp. He bounced around the XFL, CFL and Hamilton Touch Football League in the years after. Avery rushed for 1,448 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2002 with the Edmonton Elks.

Miller is from Shannon, Mississippi, and had 6,311 career passing yards and 43 career touchdowns at Ole Miss.

He led the Rebels to three straight bowl games, including two wins in the Independence Bowl. Miller won 22 games as a starter.

Morris finished with 25 catches for 255 yards on his career. He was a valued special-teamer, too. Morris finished with 34 tackles and a blocked kick. 

Morris after Ole Miss became a military officer for the U.S. Army.

“What I learned and experienced with my brothers at Ole Miss has helped me keep myself and my Soldiers alive through the toughest of times,” Morris wrote years ago of his post-Ole Miss experience. 

“We grew, lost, healed and overcame together. These traits are only harvested because I recognized the impact of my time at Ole Miss.”

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