Which Impactful Ole Miss Rebels Seniors Could Return in 2024?
OXFORD, Miss. -- The No. 11 Ole Miss Rebels fought through their difficult 2023 regular season and came out with an impressive 10 wins, recording their second double-digit win season in three years.
The Rebels will not be attending their conference title game or partaking in the College Football Playoff, but this was a successful season regardless, and they still have a slim shot at a New Year's 6 bowl game. Ole Miss has shattered numerous program milestones under Lane Kiffin, and the team could be in store for even greater achievements starting in 2024 when the playoff expands to 12 teams.
If the expansion began this season, Ole Miss would be in the field at this moment, and that has the program buzzing as it begins preparation for next season. The thought of getting Ole Miss to its first-ever playoff appearance might even be enough to get more than a handful of talented seniors to return on both sides of the ball.
The Rebels are still awaiting an official decision from junior quarterback Jaxson Dart, but if he and other seniors decide to run it back one more year, Ole Miss could be a dangerous team in 2024.
I have listed the top seniors who could potentially return next season and will discuss their impact below.
Offense
RB -- Ulysses Bentley IV
TE -- Caden Prieskorn
WR -- Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Dayton Wade
OL -- Caleb Warren, Jeremy James, and Reece McIntyre
Defense
DT -- JJ Pegues and Josh Harris
DE -- Cedric Johnson and Jared Ivey
DB -- John Saunders Jr.
LB -- Khari Coleman
WR Tre Harris and other talented seniors could potentially rerturn to the Ole Miss Rebels for a run at the College Football Playoff in 2024.
Carleigh Harbin-The Grove Report
One domino has already fallen on the defensive side of the ball, as JJ Pegues announced on Wednesday night that he will be returning for another season. Pegues finished second on the team in tackles for loss with 8.0, and third in sacks with 3.5.
I could be wrong, but I believe that Cedric Johnson is bound for the NFL after finishing the year tied for No. 1 in sacks on the team with 5.5. The 2023 Chucky Mullins Award winner has had a stellar career with the Rebels, as he is Ole Miss' active career leader in sacks with 13.5.
In my opinion, Jared Ivey will return with Pegues to lead the Rebels' defensive line in 2024. Ivey led the team in TFLs (9.5) and sacks (5.5) in 2023. Josh Harris is another big man in the trenches whose return would give the Rebels talented veterans to rotate along the defensive line. Those three would lead a young but talented room, as the Rebels currently have four 4-star commits along the defensive line.
John Saunders transferred to Ole Miss ahead of the 2023 season and was a vital part of Ole Miss' secondary in his first season in the SEC. Saunders lead the Rebels with three interceptions and finished third on the team in tackles and pass breakups with 61 and five, respectively.
Khari Coleman would provide a solid veteran presence in the linebacker room and be a quality run defender.
Now for the offense. Let's just tackle the group with the most potential, the receivers. Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and Dayton Wade have looked like one of, if not, the best receiving trios in college football this season, and I believe all three will decide to run it back.
Dart's decision will likely play a major role in these resolutions, but I could see all three wideouts returning. The 2024 NFL Draft is absolutely loaded with talented receivers, and it could prove to be more beneficial for the three seniors to try to increase their stock with one more year in Kiffin's offense.
Tight end Caden Prieskorn is in a similar situation as the trio above, but I believe his return was hinted at earlier this week when freshman Jayvontay Conner announced his plans to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
It certainly would not hurt to retain veteran talent along the offensive line, but it should be noted that freshman Brycen Sanders will be competing for a starting position this offseason. The former four-star recruit has the versatility to play both tackle and guard and could be the anchor of Ole Miss' offensive line for the next few seasons.
Ulysses Bentley is another player whose return could greatly impact the offense. The former transfer has become an electric compliment to Quinshon Judkins out of the backfield in his first healthy season with the Rebels. Bentley has rushed for 521 yards and four touchdowns on 92 attempts, and has also hauled in 11 passes for 87 yards and one touchdown.
Bentely has already spent five seasons at the collegiate level, however, and may be ready to rest the waters of the NFL, as tailbacks have a short shelf life in the pros.
