The Mount Rushmore of Ole Miss Football

No. 1: Archie Manning, Quarterback (1968-1970)

Archie Manning hails from Drew, Mississippi and is widely considered the greatest Rebel of all time–and one of the very best to ever come out of the Southeastern Conference.

Archie finished his three-year career with 5,576 yards of total offense and 56 TDs. To this day, he still holds many school records. Many of his other records remained intact until his son, Eli, arrived on the scene. Archie’s jersey number 18 was the first number to be retired by Ole Miss football.

Awards and records

Archie was named All-SEC and All-American in 1969 and 1970. He finished fourth in the Heisman voting in 1969 and third in 1970. Until 2012, Archie held the school record for most yards of offense in a single game (540) which he compiled against Alabama in 1969.

Archie was the National Back of the Year in 1969 and was Co-Captain of the 1970 team that won the Sugar Bowl. After a phenomenal college career, the New Orleans Saints chose Archie second overall in the 1971 NFL Draft.

After an outstanding 14-year NFL career, Archie was named an SEC Legend in 1998. He is a member of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, the Ole Miss Sports Hall of Fame, and the National Quarterback Club Hall of Fame. He was named an All-Time All-American, received the Davey O’Brien Legends Award, was chosen as a member of the Louisiana Superdome Wall of Fame, and has been enshrined in New Orleans Saints Ring of Honor.