ALEX EDWARDS | The Daily Mississippian
Athletes arrive for the Rebel Choice Awards at the Ford Center Monday. The awards honored the work of student athletes for the past season. For full story, see page 4.
Ole Miss honored its student-athletes and coaches last night at the fourth annual Rebels’ Choice Awards, held at the Gertrude C. Ford Center. The event served as the kickoff for Grove Bowl Week, which features the annual Grove Bowl on Saturday.
Assisstant Athletics Director Jamil Northcutt received special recognition, as this year marks his last with Ole Miss. He will take a job with the Cleveland Browns later this year.
“This is a great time for us to all come together,” Northcutt said. “Fans, student-athletes, coaches and staff all in one place at one time at a high-class event to celebrate all the hard work, it’s a great thing.”
ESPN’s Clay Matvick, who has hosted the Rebels’ Choice Awards the two previous years, was back for round three.
Nineteen awards selected by the Ole Miss Student-Athlete Advisory Committee were given out to the Ole Miss athletes and coaches for their hard work during the season. Student-athletes crowded the red carpet and looked excited to be there just before the beginning of the event.
“Of course, who wouldn’t be” said Sam Kendricks, junior track and field pole vaulter. “It’s so great to be here all dressed up with the red carpet and everything. I’m honored to be nominated.”
The first two winners were Asia Cooper, sophomore track and field sprinter, and Laquon Treadwell, sophomore wide receiver. Each won the respective Women’s and Men’s Rookie of the Year awards.
Junior volleyball player Rachael McLamore pulled two awards with the Women’s Bennie Abram Award and the Women’s Community Service Outreach Award. She was also nominated for Women’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Junior pitcher Scott Weathersby took home the Men’s Community Service Outreach and senior wide receiver Jordan Holder captured the Bennie Abram award.
Senior Caroline Rohde-Moe, representing the tennis team, and senior kicker Andrew Ritter each took home the respective awards for Women’s and Men’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Play of the Year Award went to Jeff Scott’s 73-yard punt return against Vanderbilt. The Game of the Year award was given to the football team for the 27-24 win over LSU.
The Men’s Hotty Toddy Award was awarded to D.T. Shackelford, graduate student linebacker and defensive end for the men, and the women’s to sophomore volleyball player Skylar Johnson.
Johnson has compartment syndrome and had three surgeries before she was medically released this past Thanksgiving. She missed the pass two seasons while recovering from related injuries.
“It is nice to be acknowledged even if I wasn’t on the court,” she said. “I was very surprised but grateful.”
Coach of the Year was awarded to women’s soccer coach Matt Mott and to football coach Hugh Freeze.
Freeze said winning the Men’s Coach of the Year award was “an absolute joy.”
“This is all a reflection of the players and the staff,” he said. “All praise that comes my way just reflects right back to them.”
Fan Favorite was awarded to Marshall Henderson; however, the senior basketball player was not present to accept his award.
The Most Valuable Rebel award was given to Rafaelle Souza for soccer and to Kendricks for track and field.
The last award of the night, Team of the Year, was awarded to the women’s soccer team and the men’s track and field.
