Which Ole Miss seniors can return in 2024 for a final season?
Over the last few weeks college football teams have held their long-standing tradition of Senior Day on the final home game of the regular season, Ole Miss included. But with the way transfer portals and the COVID eligibility rules that day is not as absolute as it was in 2019.
Over the last four years there have been players take part in Senior Day / Night but still return the following fall to play one final season.
For Ole Miss the list is lengthy and full of top players who have a decision to make between now and the bowl game and in the weeks after the 2023 season is officially in the books.
The Rebels offense could benefit greatly if decisions go their way and not see much dropoff in production at all.
Below is the list of seniors on offense who have the option to return for a final season:
- Jam Griffin
- Tre Harris
- Jordan Watkins
- Dayton Wade
- Joshua Aka
- Ulysses Bentley IV
- Caleb Warren
- Reece McIntyre
- Jeremy James
- Caden Prieskorn
Ole Miss could potentially have its three top receivers from this season return in 2024. Harris, Wade, Watkins and Prieskorn accounted for 2,674 receiving yards or 48.9 percent of the Rebels total yards on offense (5,465).
The ground game could stay intact and remain as potent as it has been the last two years if Bentley returns and joins Quinshon Judkins. The Ole Miss duo rushed for 1,573 yards and 19 touchdowns as Judkins had a second-straight 1,000-yard season. Rising sophomore Kedrick Reescano will also be added to the mix, possibly as early as bowl practices.
Then there is of course the quarterback situation and the ‘will he or won’t he’ of Jaxson Dart. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin announced prior to the ULM game that Dart was planning on returning. Two days later both were walking back those comments as the junior has not made a decision of staying in Oxford or throwing his hat in the NFL Draft.
Dart finished the regular season as the fifth best passer in the Southeastern Conference with 2,985 yards and should eclipse the 3,000-yard mark for a second season with Kiffin early in the upcoming bowl game.
Of course non of this potential on paper might not reach its fullest if the offensive line does not improve after a lackluster season this year. Ole Miss’ offensive front gave up 26 sacks this season, tying Mississippi State for seventh most in the SEC.
The Ole Miss defense could also get some key returners back for another season top priority areas.
In Pete Golding’s first year as the Rebels defensive coordinator there were positive steps taken and hope for the trend to continue into 2024.
On way that could happen is if the defensive line keeps as many seasoned veterans as possible for one more season.
Here is the list of seniors on defense who have the option to return for a final season:
Ole Miss is losing three of its top five tacklers from this season and potentially four, depending on what Trey Washington decides to do this offseason.
But on the positive side of things the Rebels could keep its top for sack-getters in Ivey, Johnson, Suntarine Perkins and Pegues if those three opt to return. Of the three the most likey to stay would be native son Pegues, unless he gets a really good draft evaluation and wants to go on and try his luck in the combine and draft.
Lots of decisions will be made in the coming weeks that will determine the makeup of the 2024 Ole Miss roster and with the transfer portal opening up on Monday there could be other dominoes that fall along with the super seniors.
