Who will be named the top college football player in Mississippi? Well, that will be determined on Tuesday evening at the Sheraton Refuge in Flowood.
The following finalists for the 29th annual Conerly Trophy were recently announced with just one set to take home the award.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart
One of college football’s most efficient signal callers, Dart is leading the SEC in passing with 3,875 yards and 25 touchdowns so far in the Rebels’ pursuit of a playoff appearance. The Kaysville, Utah native also became the winningest quarterback in Ole Miss history and surpassed Eli Manning as the program’s passing yards leader this year.
Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith
A tackling machine, the sophomore has been a bright spot on what otherwise was a struggling Bulldog defense in year one of the Jeff Lebby era. Smith logged a conference-best 127 tackles (46 solo). He has also deflected three passes and forced a fumble this season.
Southern Miss punter Bryce Lofton
In what was a daunting 2024 campaign for the Golden Eagles, Lofton has stepped up as one of the team’s most reliable assets. The senior from Sand Hill has punted the ball 61 times for 2,714 yards — an average of 44.5 yards per boot. He currently sits as the top punter in the Sun Belt.
Jackson State running back Irv Mulligan
The Tigers have rolled this season and are poised to compete for a SWAC championship on Saturday, largely due to Mulligan’s superb production on the ground. The senior from Beaufort, S.C. has recorded a conference-best 1,052 yards, 10 touchdowns, and an average of 6.7 yards per carry.
Alcorn State quarterback Xzavier Vaughn
The dual-threat quarterback from Beaumont, Texas has used his arm talent and legs all year, making the Braves a tough team to defend. Vaughn amassed 1,452 yards in the air with five touchdowns and six interceptions. He has also logged 727 yards and 11 scores on the ground.
Mississippi Valley State wide receiver Nathan Rembert
Though the Delta Devils struggled as a team this year, Rembert displayed individual excellence on the field. The sophomore from Kissimmee, Fla. mounted 65 receptions, 931 yards, an average of 14.3 yards per catch, and three touchdowns. His stat sheet currently ranks No. 2 in the SWAC.
Delta State running back Kelvin Smith
Todd Cooley’s Statesmen had a tough task ahead in filling the shoes of last year’s Conerly Trophy winner, Patrick Shegog. Smith, a senior from Columbus, rose to the occasion, recording 736 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Mississippi College defensive lineman Brennan Blake
Blake, a defensive lineman who transferred to Mississippi College after beginning his college career at UAB, is the Choctaws’ final Conerly Trophy nominee as the university announced the disbandment of the football program last month. The redshirt freshman was responsible for 38 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one pass deflected in his team’s final campaign.
Belhaven linebacker Wyatt Beck
With CJ Nightingale making his debut as the Blazers’ frontman this year, the team needed veteran leadership to step up. Beck, a junior linebacker, did just that. The Baton Rouge, La. native logged 89 tackles, three sacks, one forced fumble, and one deflected pass.
Millsaps linebacker Nehemiah Coalson
In what was an impressive first year under Brandon Lechtenberg’s leadership, the Majors found a shining star in Coalson. The junior from Belzoni led a hard-nosed defense with 74 tackles, 8.5 of which were for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and five quarterback hurries.