April 16, 2011

OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, along with various football support groups, honored several members of the 2010 and 2011 Rebel squads here Saturday during Grove Bowl activities.

Athletes who received the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included center Chase Hughes of Springville, Ala., and linebacker Mike Marry of Clearwater, Fla.

The Scholar-Athlete Award recognizes incoming freshmen athletes who compiled outstanding records both in the classroom and on the athletic field during their high school careers. Marry lettered last year as a true freshman, while Hughes was redshirted.

Senior running back Brandon Bolden of Baton Rouge, La., received the Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for being named the most outstanding offensive player of the 2011 spring football drills, and junior linebacker D.T. Shackelford of Decatur, Ala., picked up the honor as the most outstanding defensive player of spring workouts. The award honors the late Jeff Hamm, who served 40 years with the University of Mississippi in various capacities, including the final 20 years as Business Manager of Athletics.

The J. Richard Price Courage and Compassion Award went to rising senior offensive lineman Bradley Sowell of Hernando, Miss. The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Bradley Sowell, honors Richard Price, who was a three-year starter and an offensive and defensive standout on three of the greatest Rebel teams (1958-59-60).

Shackelford was also recognized for receiving the Chucky Mullins Courage Award last Thursday night. Shackelford is the 22nd winner of the prestigious award which honors the memory of Mullins, who was paralyzed after making a tackle against Vanderbilt during the 1989 Homecoming game, and then passed away on May 6, 1991.

Punter Tyler Campbell of Little Rock, Ark., was honored as the 2010 NCAA punting champion, becoming the 19th statistical champion in school history.

Among the 2010 senior honorees, linebacker Jonathan Cornell of Azusa, Calif., received the 2010 Most Dedicated Player Award from the Ole Miss Alumni Association, and long snapper Wesley Phillips of Madison, Miss., received the 2010 Clower-Walters Award. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli of San Francisco was distinguished with the 2010 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club.

All-SEC defensive tackle Jerrell Powe of Waynesboro, Miss., received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2010 campaign.  The award honors the late Vaught, whose Ole Miss teams won 190 games over 25 seasons as the Rebels captured six Southeastern Conference titles and a share of three national championships.

Earlier in the day, Powe joined a host of former Rebels from the NFL ranks that were celebrated on the Grove stage with a special program. The panel discussion, called “Life in the NFL,” also featured BenJarvus  Green-Ellis, Mike  Wallace, Deuce  McAllister, Kendrick  Lewis, Micheal  Spurlock and Tutan  Reyes.