OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Hugh Freeze announced Thursday that Dan Werner won’t return to the coaching staff.
Werner served as co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in each of Freeze’s five seasons as head coach. It marked his second stint at Ole Miss, having also been offensive coordinator in 2006 and 2007.
Under Werner, the Rebels enjoyed some great highs over the past five years, particularly in 2015 when Ole Miss led the Southeastern Conference and was top 10 nationally in scoring (40.8 points per game), total offense (517.8 yards per game), and passing offense (334.7 ypg.). That season saw the Rebels set multiple program records, including scoring (531), touchdowns (68), total offense (6,731), passing yards (4,351), and passing touchdowns (35).
“I am grateful to Dan for his contributions to our program,” Freeze said. “His leadership and experience were invaluable in the development of our quarterbacks. These are always very difficult decisions, but at this time, I believe it is best for our program to have a fresh approach. We wish Dan and his family the very best.”
Ole Miss also announced it won’t renew the contract of assistant athletic director Barney Farrar, and he is no longer part of the staff.
These departures follow the retirement of defensive coordinator Dave Wommack, who stepped down Nov. 26 after 38 years in the coaching ranks.
n Engram named first-team All-America: For the second-straight day, Ole Miss tight end Evan Engram was named Thursday first-team All-America by USA Today Sports and Sports Illustrated.
Engram is the 58th first-team All-American in Ole Miss football history.
On Tuesday, the team captain was named a first-team All-SEC selection by the conference’s coaches. The honor helped him become the first Rebel to earn All-Conference honors all four years of his collegiate career. Earlier Wednesday, the Powder Springs, Georgia, native was named the winner of the Ozzie Newsome Award, which is given to college football’s best tight end. He also was named first-team All-America by Sporting News. Thursday, he received the Pop Warner College Football Award and was tabbed unanimous first team All-SEC by the Associated Press. Engram also took home the C Spire Conerly Trophy for the best football player in the state of Mississippi.
Engram started all 11 games as a team captain before missing the Egg Bowl due to an injured hamstring. He had 65 catches for 926 yards and eight touchdowns in 2016. The eight touchdown receptions rank second nationally among tight ends.
n Also Thursday, Engram, was named the winner of the Pop Warner Little Scholars College Football Award. The award was presented during the 60th Annual Pop Warner Super Bowl at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports complex.
The award, established in 2010, recognizes a senior who has made a difference on the field, in the classroom and in his community, all attributes Pop Warner emphasizes with its young scholar athletes. Last year’s winner was former Wake Forest University and current Detroit Lions linebacker Brandon Chubb.
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