News Summary
Four student-athletes from Ole Miss football have been selected for the Preseason All-SEC team, recognizing their outstanding performances from the previous season. Junior kicker Lucas Carneiro and junior linebacker Suntarine Perkins made the second team, while senior defensive tackle Zxavian Harris and junior linebacker Princewill Umanmielen earned spots on the third team. These selections highlight Ole Miss’ competitive edge as they prepare for the upcoming season amid significant roster changes.
Oxford, MS – Ole Miss football has announced that four of its student-athletes have been selected to the Preseason All-SEC team during the 2025 SEC Media Days. The recognition highlights the talents of junior kicker Lucas Carneiro, junior linebacker Suntarine Perkins, senior defensive tackle Zxavian Harris, and junior linebacker Princewill Umanmielen.
Lucas Carneiro earned his position on the second team after a stellar performance in the previous season. He was a Lou Groza Award semifinalist and a first-team All-American. Carneiro, who previously served as the primary placekicker for Western Kentucky, showcased an impressive 87.1% field goal success rate. In 2024, he was named CUSA Special Teams Player of the Year, successfully converting 18 of 19 field goals and achieving a perfect track record with 41 PATs. Among his notable achievements, Carneiro made six field goals over 50 yards, including two from 54 yards.
Joining him on the second team is Suntarine Perkins, who was also recognized as a preseason All-American by Walter Camp and Phil Steele. Perkins played a pivotal role in helping Ole Miss achieve record-breaking defensive statistics in 2024, contributing to the team’s national lead in both sacks (52) and tackles for loss (120). He totaled 60 tackles, 14 of which were for loss, and tallied an impressive 10.5 sacks, which tied for second place in Ole Miss single-season history. A standout performance against Oklahoma saw Perkins recording four sacks in one game.
Zxavian Harris earns recognition on the third team as he enters his fourth year with the Ole Miss defensive line. Over his career, Harris has played in 37 games with 10 starts, recording 65 tackles, 8.5 of them for loss, along with 2.5 sacks. Notably, he has blocked five kicks during his tenure, just two shy of the SEC all-time record.
Princewill Umanmielen, who is also named to the third team, previously played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers and was a second-team Freshman All-American in 2023. Umanmielen has made 23 appearances, totaling 35 tackles with seven tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. His reputation as a notable transfer player has earned him a high ranking in transfer portal assessments, positioning him among the top-25 transfers by On3 and Rivals.
As Ole Miss enters its sixth year under head coach Lane Kiffin, the stakes are high. Kiffin has guided the team to five consecutive bowl berths, achieving three seasons with at least 10 wins in the last four years. The 2024 season was particularly successful, with Ole Miss setting multiple program records for total yards (6,845), passing yards (4,561), and yards per play (7.3). The Rebels capped off their season by winning the Gator Bowl and had eight players selected in the NFL Draft.
However, the 2025 season poses challenges as Ole Miss seeks to replace 63 lost lettermen and 20 starters from the previous year. To bolster the team, they have successfully assembled the No. 2 rated transfer class and a No. 15 rated high school recruiting class. Currently, Ole Miss is anticipated to be a consensus top-25 team across various preseason polls. The predicted order of finish in the SEC ranks Ole Miss at seventh place with 1,979 points, while Texas is favored to clinch the SEC Championship against Georgia.
The selection of the athletes reinforces Ole Miss’ competitive edge as they prepare for a challenging season ahead, blending experience with new talent to maintain their strong status in college football.
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Additional Resources
- On3: Four Ole Miss Rebels Land on Preseason All-SEC Teams
- Encyclopedia Britannica: SEC
- SEC Sports: Preseason SEC Football Media Poll
- Google Search: Ole Miss football preseason rankings
- 247Sports: Ole Miss in Top Five of SEC Preseason Rankings
- Google News: Lane Kiffin Ole Miss
- SI: What It Means for Ole Miss Football
- Google Search: College Football News
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