If you are looking at the AP top 25 college football box scores on this Halloween Saturday, pay special attention to #12 University of Mississippi 45, Auburn 15. Then look for Will Echoles, who is rated the top interior defensive line prospect in this class.
You'll notice that Echoles had goose eggs across the board in this game.
Time to do a "NFL Draft Stock: Sell!" article, right? In the words of the legendary Lee Corso, "not so fast, my friend." You'll see Echoles' name in the box score, but on the other page, in the offense section.
He had one carry, for 1 yard rushing, a TD and a "long rush" of 1.
Check out the footage of that touchdown rush below:
BIG MAN ALERT! BIG MAN ALERT!
STUD DT WILL ECHOLES JUST SCORED A RUSHING TD! https://t.co/HVq3bfXKc1
— Reason (@the_real_reason) October 31, 2026
After a scoreless first quarter for both sides, it was actually Echoles who opened the scoring in this SEC conference clash. Who would have guessed that the blue chip prospect, Ole Miss DT would score the first touchdown in this game?
The 6'3", 315 pound mountain of a man had previously been used in the backfield, but only as a lead blocker for the Rebels' stable of tailbacks. This speciifc play was reminiscent of something that happened almost exactly 31 years ago. It was not October 31 (happy Halloween to all who celebrate) but October 21, in 1985, when William "the Refrigerator" Perry scored his first touchdown.
It came in a Chicago Bears Monday night 23-7 win over the arch-rival Green Bay Packers.
The Fridge, who added another rushing TD in Super Bowl XX, is not the best player comp for Echoles. The Rebels' defensive stalwart is more athletic, agile and versatile than Perry was during his prime.
One thing the two players do have in common though is a propensity to show up in the biggest of games.
Back on Sept. 19, when Ole Miss beat #7 LSU 32-24 in the much ballyhooed Lane Kiffin return/revenge game (and if there is anything Lane Kiffin loves, it's being the main character), Echoles led his team in tackles for a loss with 2.5. He was also 4th in total tackles for the Rebs that night, which was easily one of the biggest home wins in recent memory for the program.
“Just proud of the whole Ole Miss kind of nation, that was a great moment for Ole Miss,” program legend and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning said in an exclusive with Ratings. “The crowd looked awesome. It looked electric there in Oxford, a lot kind of thrown at this situation and this environment and Lane Kiffin and everything going on there...So excited for Pete Golding (Ole Miss head coach), the whole kind of Ole Miss family. That was fun to watch and proud of those guys.”
That was certainly "staturday" for Echoles this season, who hasn't exactly been stuffing the stat sheet over the course of the 2026 campaign.
If you look at his overall numbers, there just isn't all that much jumping off the page at you. However, it's a bit misleading, because opposing offenses have been keying in on him, often imposing double teams in his direction. The lack of statistical production isn't hurting his draft stock though.
He's still ranked as the #6 overall prospect, regardless of position, on Tankathon's big board. He's also #11 overall on NFL Mock Draft Database.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Top DL prospect, Ole Miss star Will Echoles scores a rushing touchdown
