Breaking: Two Ole Miss key stars are named Walter Camp Award Semifinalists

Jaxson Dart is putting his name in the running for another piece of gear.

Walter Nolen, one of his teammates, is the same way.

The Ole Miss senior quarterback and junior defensive lineman have been selected semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Walter Camp Football Foundation said on Wednesday. The combination has also been instrumental in the Rebels’ resurgence, which has led to a possible College Football Playoff appearance.

Dart, who is also a Campbell Trophy finalist and a Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist, is now completing 70.8 percent of his throws, the highest rate among all SEC-qualified quarterbacks. In 10 games, he has thrown for 3,409 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions, and an efficiency rating of 188.6.

Dart has 304 rushing yards and three touchdowns, bringing his total offense to 371.3 yards per game, which leads the FBS. The third-year starter also leads the FBS in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt (11.4), while ranking in the top ten of FBS passers in yards (FBS No. 2), yards per completion (16.2; FBS No. 3), passing yards per game (340.9; FBS No. 4), passing touchdowns (FBS No. 6), and completion percentage (FBS No. 7).

Dart also leads the conference in all categories as Ole Miss enters its second bye week.

Following a victory over then-No. 3 Georgia, Dart has a 26-9 record as a starter for the Rebels, the most wins by any Ole Miss quarterback in the modern era. Dart led the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history, finishing 11-2 and winning the Peach Bowl over Penn State. He has led the Rebels to a current AP poll position of No. 10 and a College Football Playoff ranking of No. 11 heading into the last two games of the regular season.

He also established a school record by completing 25 of 31 pass attempts for 515 yards and six touchdowns in the team’s victory over Arkansas. He also added 47 rushing yards, bringing his total yardage to 562.

That beat Archie Manning’s record of 540 total yards set in 1969. Manning, a junior, completed 33 of 52 throws for 436 yards and two TDs. Manning also carried for 104 yards and three touchdowns in the 33-32 loss to No. 15 Alabama.

Dart has a 65.8 percent completion rate over his Rebel career. He’s thrown for 9,747 yards and 65 touchdowns, with an efficiency rating of 163.4. Dart’s 1,307 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground place him among the top rushing quarterbacks in Ole Miss history, 31 yards short of Matt Corral’s record of 1,338.

The Utah native also holds the Ole Miss career records for total offense (11,054) and 300-yard passing games (13), and he is on track to break several more career and season records, including Eli Manning’s 10,119 passing yards.

Nolen, a Bednarik Award semifinalist, has helped lead a fearsome Rebel defensive squad that leads the nation in both sacks (46) and tackles for loss (103), as well as FBS top-10 rankings in rushing defense (second, 79.9 ypg), scoring defense (sixth, 12.9 ppg), and red zone defense (eighth, 69.2 percent).

Nolen, a transfer from Texas A&M, has 32 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, and two pass breakups. The Tennessee native is presently ranked as the seventh-best interior defensive lineman in the country by PFF, with an 84.8 overall grade (second in the SEC).

Nolen’s 90.6 run defense grade leads the SEC and is third among all FBS interior defenders.

Later this month, the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors will vote to determine the Walter Camp Player of the Year.

The three finalists will be announced on Tuesday, November 26, and the 58th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award will be announced on Thursday, December 12, during the ESPN College Football Awards Show.