With Caden Prieskorn and Tre Harris' Return in 2024, Ole Miss Rebels Begin Dreaming of SEC Title
Caden Prieskorn said earlier this week that he finally started to feel 100 percent in early October after Ole Miss' bye week.
The production would back up the sentiment. Prieskorn, a transfer from Memphis, picked up 16 of his 20 regular-season receptions for 284 yards and two touchdowns while helping the Rebels secure six of their 10 regular season wins.
Imagine an entire season of that production? That dream is about to become a reality in Oxford as fans greet 2024 with welcoming arms.
Ole Miss TE Caden Prieskorn
© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Prieskorn finished with 10 catches for 136 yards and matched his season total in touchdowns with two scores as Ole Miss secured its first 11-win season in program history with the 38-25 victory over No. 10 Penn State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
"I've got to thank my coaches, Coach [Charlie] Weiss and Coach [Lane Kiffin] Kiffin, for trusting me," Prieskorn said postgame. "And just the whole O-line, just blocking. I've just got to thank my teammates for just trusting me."
The Rebels' tight end proved to be a vital piece to the offense in front of over 72,000 fans in Atlanta. A first down needed? No. 86 was on the way. A gain of 20? Look no further than Prieskorn.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart, who finished with 379 yards and four total touchdowns, put an emphasis on building a connection with Prieskorn, similar to the bond forged with leading receiver Tre Harris. For most of the afternoon, that was the game plan, too.
If No. 9 was covered, Dart went inside. If No. 86 was blanketed, the quarterback took the outside shot.
“We just made history,” Dart said. “I’m jacked now. We’re gonna keep going, and bright future, for sure.”
Both Prieskorn and Harris will return in 2024 in hopes of leading the Rebels to their first College Football Playoff appearance. With an offseason ahead, plus a more relaxed schedule than most and a surplus of talent return, a playoff berth isn't just possible, but somewhat expected.
The portal takes away talent, but it also provides a much-needed spark in Oxford. The Rebels are closing in on the top transfer class in 2024, headlined by defensive talents like Tyler Baron, Chris Paul Jr., and No. 1 player Walter Nolen. Ole Miss also secured offensive weapon Juice Wells from South Carolina, a plug-and-play complementary target opposite Harris.
Harris, who finished with seven catches for 134 yards, should remain Ole Miss' No. 1 target. At worst, Prieskorn is the red-zone playmaker or chain-mover on third-and-short to keep scoring opportunities prosperous. At best, he's the No. 2 target that becomes a clone of Georgia's Brock Bowers.
Imagine an offense featuring three standout pass-catchers instead of one. How many points per game will the Rebels average next season?
Thirty-five?
Thiry-eight?
Forty-two?
"It's a really special time," said Kiffin. "I said that when I got hired, we didn't come here to be good and win some decent bowl games and some matches. We came here to be great, win New Year's Six bowls like this, be a top ten program.
"These guys announcing they're coming back, all these great players around the country kind of coming together. Some of these guys joked about it being the last dance next year, and I was concerned there was too much focus on that."
Prieskorn's breakout outing was just a glimpse of what the Rebels could be in 2023. A dominant offense met with consistency on defense and personnel expected to stay the same in Oxford? What's not to like in the long run?
Harris and Prieskorn's return is only the start of promising days ahead in Oxford. And it could end with a trip back to Atlanta next December.
