Ole Miss's Echoles Named Lombardi Award Semifinalist
Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles is among 12 candidates in the running for the 53rd annual Lombardi Award.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles was announced as a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award, which honors the most outstanding lineman or linebacker in college football. The committee announced a field of 12 candidates.
Why it matters
The semifinalist recognition highlights Echoles's season for the Rebels, where he has started all eight games. The award also recognizes the player who demonstrates the best discipline on the field.
Echoles has recorded 21 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, 2 pass breakups, and 3 quarterback hurries in eight starts this season, while the award field stands at 12 semifinalists. The final selection will be made before the 53rd annual presentation on Dec. 9.
The players
Will Echoles
Echoles is a defensive tackle for Ole Miss and a former Houston High School standout from Mississippi who has started every game this season.
Lombardi Award
The Lombardi Award is an annual college football honor recognizing the most outstanding lineman or linebacker, and it also recognizes the player with the best discipline on the field.
The details
Echoles, a Mississippi native and former Houston High School standout, scored a touchdown at the goal line on his first collegiate rush attempt in Ole Miss's 45-15 win over Auburn. Other semifinalists include Princewill Umanmielen, Colin Simmons, Drew Bobo, and Lance Heard.
Timeline
- Oct. 31, 2026: Ole Miss Football posted video of Echoles's touchdown.
- Dec. 9, 2026: The 53rd annual Lombardi Award will be presented.
Season Trajectory
Echoles's selection as one of 12 semifinalists for the 53rd annual Lombardi Award signals his rising profile among SEC defensive linemen this season. The recognition arrives as Ole Miss builds its defensive identity around players like Echoles, who contributed both production and a goal-line touchdown in the Auburn win.
Fantasy and defensive-line watchers can track Echoles's production, which includes 21 total tackles and 1.5 sacks through eight starts. The Lombardi Award finalist announcement is the next checkpoint for following the semifinalist field.
The takeaway
Echoles's touchdown and season production show how a defensive tackle can contribute beyond the stat sheet, a point the Lombardi Award's discipline criterion rewards. Readers following Ole Miss can watch for the finalist announcement as the award season continues.
What happens next
The Lombardi Award finalists and winner will be determined ahead of the 53rd annual presentation on Dec. 9, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Oxford Football coverage for the latest on the Rebels' defense.
Source note: This article includes information reported by SuperTalk Mississippi Media.
