Midseason honors are piling up for members of the Ole Miss football team amid a disappointing campaign

Midseason honors continue to pile up for members of the Ole Miss football team (5-2, 1-2 SEC) as fans continue to be disappointed with how the highly anticipated 2024 season has unfolded so far.

The country’s current top wide receiver, Tre Harris, is on the prestigious Maxwell Award watch list alongside veteran Rebel quarterback Jaxson Dart. Dart was added to the list ahead of the season’s debut. The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the best overall player in college football.

Harris is in the midst of a historic year as Darts’ preferred passing target. The Louisiana native currently leads the nation in receiving yards (987) and yards per game (141.0), while he also leads the SEC in receptions per game (8.4) and receiving touchdowns (six).

Harris has recorded no fewer than 81 yards receiving in every game this season, passed the century mark five times, 150 yards receiving three times and recorded a career-high 225 yards receiving on 11 catches against Georgia Southern. He recorded the most receiving yards before October in the College Football Playoff era with 804 in five games and is currently the top-graded FBS receiver according to Pro Football Focus with a grade of 90.1.

On the defensive side of the ball, defensive tackle Walter Nolen and linebacker Chris “Pooh” Paul, Jr. are on the Bednarik Award watch list alongside edge rusher Princely Umanmielen. Umanmielen, who has missed the last two games due to injury, was selected in the preseason.

Nolen, a highly sought-after transfer from Texas A&M, has been a force on Pete Golding’s stout defensive line and is currently tied for third with six tackles for loss in addition to his total of 26 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two pass breakups and two QBs Spot on the team rush and a fumble recovery. Nolen ranks third nationally in PFF’s rush defense rating among all interior defensive linemen with a grade of 91.1.

Paul, meanwhile, is not only the leading Rebel tackler with 48 total stops on the season, but also the SEC’s highest-graded linebacker per PFF with a grade of 90.9 – the second-best grade nationally. The Arkansas transfer ranks second on the team with seven tackles for a loss, while he also owns a team-leading 2.5 sacks, three pass breakups and seven QB hurries.

In addition to the players receiving midseason recognition, head coach Lane Kiffin was added to the Dodd Trophy watch list. The Dodd Trophy goes to the coach who achieves success on the field while emphasizing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity off the field. In his time fronting the Rebels, Kiffin compiled a 39-17 record, including the program’s first-ever 11-win season.

The latest announcements come as Ole Miss looks to rebound from a heartbreaking overtime loss at LSU. Going into last season, fans, players and coaches alike were convinced that this team could not only make its debut in an expanded College Football Playoff, but also win the national championship.

With two early losses on their record, Kiffin and Co. have no room for error and will likely need to win to have a chance of being among the 12 teams competing for a title. Ole Miss heads into a bye week and is scheduled to host Oklahoma at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Saturday, October 26th at 11 a.m. local time.