Jaxson Dart, Walter Nolen Named Walter Camp Award Semifinalists

NEW HAVEN, Conn. –(Release) Ole Miss football senior quarterback Jaxson Dart and junior defensive tackle Walter Nolen have both been named semifinalists for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, as announced by the Walter Camp Football Foundation on Wednesday.

Dart and Nolen are among 20 total semifinalists for the Walter Camp Award, the fourth-oldest college football award in the nation. Ole Miss is one of three schools with multiple semifinalists alongside Colorado (Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders) and Penn State (Abdul Carter, Tyler Warren), with Dart sitting as one of eight quarterbacks on the list and Nolen one of seven defensive players.

This season, Dart – also a finalist for the Campbell Trophy and a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O’Brien Awards – owns a passing line of 211-of-298 (70.8 percent) for 3,409 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions and an efficiency rating of 188.6. On the ground, Dart owns 304 yards and three scores, pushing his total offense to an FBS-leading 371.3 yards per game. Dart also leads the FBS in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt (11.4), while leading the SEC and ranking FBS top-10 in passing 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).

At 26-9 as a starter with the Rebels, Dart owns the most wins by any Ole Miss starting quarterback of the modern era since Archie Manning’s first start in 1968. Last season, Dart led the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history at 11-2 – capped by a Peach Bowl victory over Penn State – and this season he has led Ole Miss to a current No. 10 ranking and recently helped lift the Rebels to a historic 28-10 victory over No. 2 Georgia.

As a Rebel, Dart owns a passing line of 670-of-1,018 (65.8 percent) for 9,747 yards, 65 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 163.4. His 1,307 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground also make him one of the best rushing quarterbacks in Ole Miss history – 31 yards shy of Matt Corral’s record 1,338. Dart already owns Ole Miss career marks in total offense (11,054) and 300-yard passing games (13), while closing in on several other career and season records – including Eli Manning’s career passing yard total of 10,119.

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

On the year, Nolen has 32 tackles (16 solo) with 7.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks, three QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and two pass breakups. Nolen is currently PFF’s No. 7 rated interior defensive lineman nationally at an 84.8 overall grade (No. 2 SEC), while his run defense grade of 90.6 leads the SEC and ranks third among all FBS interior defenders.

Nolen was on preseason watch lists for the Walter Camp, Outland, Lombardi and Nagurski awards, and was added midseason to the Maxwell and Bednarik watch lists.

The Walter Camp Player of the Year will be voted on by the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and sports information directors later this month. Three finalists will be announced on Tues., Nov. 26, and the 58th recipient of the Walter Camp Player of Year Award will be announced on the ESPN College Football Awards Show on Thurs., Dec. 12.

Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Semifinalists

Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Bryson Daily, QB, Army West Point

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon

Travis Hunter, WR/DB, Colorado

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

James Pearce, Jr., Edge, Tennessee

Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge, Virginia Tech

Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports