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The University of Mississippi Athletics
Will Echoles Placed on Preseason Nominee List for Wuerffel Trophy
8/11/2026 | Football
ATLANTA – The Wuerffel Foundation announced their nominees for the 2026 Allstate Wuerffel Trophy watch list on Tuesday, selecting Ole Miss defensive lineman Will Echoles. The award honors FBS players who lead through community service while excelling in the classroom and on the field.
Echoles returns to Ole Miss for his third season following a 2025 campaign that saw the lineman earn all-conference and All-America honors. Starting all 15 games at defensive tackle, the junior collected 68 total tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Echoles was named the 2025 Sugar Bowl Defensive MVP after registering five tackles, two TFL, and two pass breakups against Georgia.
He adds to his early 2026 resume which saw him recently earn a spot on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and a selection to the preseason all-SEC first team by the media.
The list will narrow down to 11 student-athletes during September who will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the honor. The winner will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 11.
Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance a season ago, the Ole Miss football team is set to kickoff the 2026 season on Sunday, September 6 against Louisville at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
Echoles returns to Ole Miss for his third season following a 2025 campaign that saw the lineman earn all-conference and All-America honors. Starting all 15 games at defensive tackle, the junior collected 68 total tackles with 11.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Echoles was named the 2025 Sugar Bowl Defensive MVP after registering five tackles, two TFL, and two pass breakups against Georgia.
He adds to his early 2026 resume which saw him recently earn a spot on the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and a selection to the preseason all-SEC first team by the media.
The list will narrow down to 11 student-athletes during September who will be named to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team and become semifinalists for the honor. The winner will be announced as part of the Home Depot College Football Awards show on December 11.
Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance a season ago, the Ole Miss football team is set to kickoff the 2026 season on Sunday, September 6 against Louisville at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.
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