This may be absolutely an overreaction, but Harrison Wallace III made an immediate splash on special teams in week one and could be the best punt return threat in a decade at Ole Miss.
The transfer wide receiver out of Penn State is also the first choice of quarterback Austin Simmons thus far. But his five punt returns for a total of 67 yards against Georgia State was the highest one game total at Ole Miss since Jordan Watkins in 2023 when he took one to the house 70 yards against Mercer.
To drive
home the point, in all of 2024 the Rebels had 126 punt returns yards for the season and in 2023 only 117 punt return yards total. Essentially he’s on a record breaking pace after one game granted against lesser than competition.
Historically, this has not be a strength at Ole Miss since maybe the days of Marshay Green in 2008 or Mike Espy in 2003. There have been individual games or efforts for sure but not a game in and game out threat. The punt return yards record holder for a season? You’ve got to go back to 1940 when Junie Hovious piled up 498 yards.
Its left to be seen once the Rebels enter SEC play if Wallace can remain a threat to get 10+ yards on punt returns or maybe even break off a field flipping return or touchdown run. If he does, it would be an X factor not yet regularly seen in a Lane Kiffin offense while in Oxford.
