The Ole Miss Rebels are only looking to build off an 11-win season entering 2024. The Rebels aren’t dreaming of returning to Atlanta for a shot at an SEC title but rather a national one in January. But what were the biggest takeaways in No. 11 Ole Miss’ 38-25 win over No. 10 Penn State? Was it that Quinshon Judkins’ ability to make defenders miss against the No. 1 defense should carry over into conference play?
How about the emergence of Suntarine Perkins or TJ Dudley? Two defenders could help alleviate the departure of Cedric Johnson and Ashanti Cistrunk. Both are good answers but wrong.
Jaxson Dart’s returning for his senior season because the richness found in the receiving room. The duo of Jordan Watkins and Tre Harris was enough to make the junior passer reconsider his options.
Add in what could be the start of a breakout season for Caden Prieskorn, and the Rebels should start pondering about their persona in the College Football Playoff race. Prieskorn did more than raise a few eyebrows Saturday. He upped the level of expectation for his production in 2024 after hauling in 10 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns.
Just add onto his pedigree; two of his catches came on impressive one-handed grabs in press coverage. No. 86 was often viewed as the No. 1 target for Dart and kept momentum at an all-time high.
Even before Dart announced his return, Prieskorn said he would return for Round 2 in Oxford. His performance in the Peach Bowl was one Kiffin expected to see during the regular season after his success as a member of Memphis’ offense. Perhaps more of those games would’ve happened if not for a pre-season injury. Prieskorn said he didn’t feel right until after the Rebels’ bye week in October.
“I feel like that week kind of helped me, getting through the bye week and then getting through Auburn week,” Prieskorn said leading up to the Peach Bowl. “I feel like that’s when I became healthy.”
The results showed. Entering October, Prieskorn had totaled for catches for 62 yards while missing three games. After the Auburn game, he recorded 24 receptions for 324 yards and four scores. Imagine the Rebels offense with a healthy Prieskorn for 12 games? While Ole Miss is losing Dayton Wade to the NFL Draft, it’s adding former South Carolina star Juice Wells, who totaled over 1,200 yards and 15 TDs in 2022.
Prieskorn’s performance brings an added light to the offensive personnel and also extends the playbook. Tight ends were an afterthought in 2022. Now, consider it a strength. Ole Miss’ offense is set to pave the way to a hopeful championship run in 2024. Prieskorn might be the missing piece that turns the Rebels from a good program into one people fear facing.
