Ole Miss Players Receive Honors at Grove Bowl

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 2006 and 2007 Rebel squads here Saturday during Grove Bowl activities.

Athletes selected to receive the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Award included defensive lineman Daverin Geralds of Baton Rouge, La.; quarterback Michael Herrick of Valencia, Calif.; kicker Joshua Shene of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and defensive lineman Marcus Tillman of McCall Creek, Miss.

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.  Geralds, Shene and Tillman all played last season during their true freshman year at Ole Miss, while Herrick was redshirted..

Linebacker Patrick Willis of Bruceton, Tenn., received the John Howard Vaught Award of Excellence for the 2006 campaign, an award which recognizes a senior athlete who exemplifies the qualities of dedication, scholastic ability, morale, and performance.  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.

Willis was also honored with the 2006 Leadership Award from the Birmingham Alumni Club, was presented his 2006 first team All-America plaque by the All-American Football Foundation and received the Southeast's Top Defensive Lineman Award from the Touchdown Club of Atlanta.

Offensive lineman Andrew Wicker of Zachary, La., received the Most Dedicated Player Award for the 2006 season from the Hinds County Chapter of the Ole Miss Alumni Association.

Kicker Will Moseley of Bailey, Miss., received the Clower-Walters Scholarship for the 2006 season.  The Clower-Walters Scholarship was established in 1974 by the late humorist Jerry Clower to honor the late Carl Walters, a longtime Mississippi sportswriter who covered Ole Miss football.

The Jeff Hamm Memorial Award for the most improved offensive and defensive players from the 2007 spring football drills went to running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis of New Orleans, La., and defensive lineman Marcus Tillman of McCall Creek, Miss.  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 center Corey Actis of Bakersfield, Calif.  The award, which includes a scholarship to Ole Miss in the name of Corey Actis, 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).

Also recognized was defensive lineman Jeremy Garrett of Senatobia, Miss.., who received the Chucky Mullins Courage Award Friday night.  Garrett is the 18th 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.

Senior soccer player Ashley Ferree of Cordova, Tenn., and senior basketball player Jada Mincy of Memphis, Tenn., received the Eugenia Conner Memorial Award, which honors the memory of the late Eugenia Conner, a four-time All-SEC center on the Lady Rebel basketball team from 1981 to 1985.  The award is presented each year to a junior or senior female student-athlete that exemplifies a true Lady Rebel with character and leadership, both on and off the court.

The University of Mississippi Athletics

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