Ole Miss Football Players Named to National Watch Lists for Outland and Bronko Nagurski Trophies
The Football Writers Association of America announced preseason watch lists Tuesday for two major college football awards. Ole Miss players Will Echoles, Patrick Kutas, and Suntarine Perkins earned spots on these lists, highlighting their potential ahead of the 2026 season.
Echoles, a defensive tackle, was named to the Outland Trophy watch list, which honors the best interior lineman in college football. The junior returns for his third season, after earning all-conference and All-America honors in 2025. He started all 15 games, recording 68 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, and five sacks. Echoles was named the Sugar Bowl Defensive MVP after a standout performance against Georgia, and he was recently named to the preseason All-SEC first team by media members.
Offensive lineman Kutas was also named to the Outland Trophy watch list. He started all 15 games for Ole Miss in 2025, helping the Rebels rank second nationally in total offense with over 489 yards per game. Kutas was recognized as the SEC co-offensive lineman of the week in September and received the Kent Hull Trophy as Mississippi’s top lineman. He is also on the media’s preseason All-SEC third team.
Linebacker Perkins made the Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list, awarded to the best defensive player nationally. The senior finished second on the team with 81 tackles in 2025, adding 12.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles. Perkins was previously on the preseason watch list for the Nagurski Trophy last year and earned preseason all-SEC second team honors for 2026.
Semifinalists for the Outland Trophy will be announced Nov. 18, with finalists named Nov. 24. The award recipient will be announced during the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show on Dec. 10. For the Nagurski Trophy, finalists will be revealed Nov. 19, and the winner announced at a banquet Dec. 7.
Ole Miss opens its 2026 season Sunday, Sept. 6, against Louisville at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, with kickoff scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Central Time.
Source: Original Article
