Conerly Trophy finalists announced

Despite not going to a bowl game in each of the past two seasons, the Ole Miss nominee for the Conerly Trophy has gone on to win the award anyway.

That could happen again this year with the 2017 recipient back in the running.

Today, the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame announced the ten finalists, a group headlined by Ole Miss wide receiver AJ Brown, but the future first round NFL draft pick certainly has some stiff competition, coming from Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffrey Simmons.

Brown already has more receptions and yards than he did a year ago, but is five touchdowns shy of last year’s mark of 11.

Meanwhile, Simmons is a semi-finalist for the Bednarik Award and spearheads one of the best defensive lines in the entire country.

USM’s Quez Watkins is another big name on the docket, having hauled in nine touchdowns as just a sophomore for the Golden Eagles.

Here’s a list of all the nominees:

• Alcorn State: Noah Johnson
• Belhaven: Denarrius Noel
• Delta State: Patrick Shegog
• Jackson State: Christian Jacquemin
• Millsaps: Chandler Coleman
• Mississippi State: Jeffrey Simmons
• Ole Miss: AJ Brown
• USM: Quez Watkins
• Mississippi College: Tiberias Lampkin
• Mississippi Valley State: Booker Champers