Ole Miss football transfer portal players are ranked among the best in the nation
OXFORD — It's no surprise that most of the preseason attention Ole Miss football is getting has to do with its much-hyped transfer portal signing class.
In advance of the Rebels' 2022 season, which begins with a matchup against Troy on Sept. 3, a slew of Ole Miss players have earned recognition on preseason awards watch lists and All-SEC teams. Some of that recognition is going to returning stars such as offensive linemen Nick Broeker and Jeremy James and receiver Jonathan Mingo.
But just as much love is going to the Rebels' newest contributors.
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Tight end Michael Trigg and linebacker Troy Brown landed on preseason watch lists for the Mackey Award and Butkus Award, trophies given annually to the nation's top tight end and linebacker. Running back Zach Evans earned third-team All-SEC honors from the media poll conducted at SEC Media Days.
The accolades don't stop there. Pro Football Focus ranked its top 25 players at every position in college football and placed five Ole Miss players on the lists, all of whom are portal adds. The analysts rank Evans as the nation's No. 5 running back, Brown as the No. 6 off-ball linebacker, Isheem Young as the No. 10 safety, Trigg as the No. 11 tight end and Ulysses Bentley IV as the No. 18 running back.
Along with Michigan, Ole Miss is one of two schools to land multiple players among PFF's top-25 running backs.
Pro Football Focus also named Evans and Brown third-team All-Americans in their preseason rankings and gave Young an honorable mention. Athlon Sports named Broeker a second-team preseason All-American and College Football News included Broeker on its preseason All-SEC team.
The Rebels begin preseason practices on Wednesday.
Ole Miss football preseason watch lists, All-SEC accolades
Offensive lineman Nick Broeker: First-team All-SEC (media poll, College Football News), Outland Trophy watch list
Offensive lineman Jeremy James: Third-team All-SEC (media poll)
Running back Zach Evans (transfer from TCU): Third-team All-SEC (media poll), third-team All-American, nation's No. 6 running back (Pro Football Focus)
Wide receiver Jonathan Mingo: Third-team All-SEC (media poll)
Linebacker Troy Brown (transfer from Central Michigan): Third-team All-American, No. 6 off-ball linebacker (Pro Football Focus); Butkus Award watch list
Tight end Michael Trigg (transfer from USC): No. 11 tight end (Pro Football Focus), John Mackey Award watch list
Safety Isheem Young (transfer from Iowa State): No. 10 safety, honorable mention All-American (Pro Football Focus)
Running back Ulysses Bentley IV (transfer from SMU): No. 18 running back (Pro Football Focus)
Contact Nick Suss at 601-408-2674 or nsuss@gannett.com. Follow @nicksuss on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Ole Miss football portal players garner national preseason attention
