Ole Miss has had a pair of 10-win seasons that produced trips to the Sugar Bowl in the past 10 years.

It also has had 5 seasons with non-winning records in that time.

So the Rebels weren’t consistent overall, but they consistently produced really good offenses featuring really good skill players.

They’ve mixed in some good defenders.

They even led the country in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) in 2014, but mostly it has been the offense and its skill players that have defined the past 10 seasons.

Here are the 10 most important Ole Miss players from the past 10 seasons (2012-21):

10. DL Robert Nkemdiche (2013-15)

Nkemdiche didn’t have the impact that was expected when he arrived in Oxford as the top-rated recruit in the country and the highest-rated one to choose the Rebels since Eli Manning in 1999.

He finished his career with just 81 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 6 sacks, though he did show his athleticism with cameos on offense and by blocking a few kicks. He was an outstanding athlete and he had an impact that was greater than his statistics can quantify.

The fact that such a prized recruit chose Ole Miss was a boost to the program’s image. Until the NCAA came calling, anyway.

9. DB Senquez Golson (2011-14)

Golson’s first season fell outside of the 10-year window, but he was a 4-year contributor. He finished his career with the 3rd-most interceptions in schools history (16) and he was a leader of that No. 1 scoring defense.

His last-minute leaping interception over Alabama’s 6-6 OJ Howard in the back of the end zone sealed the No. 11 Rebels’ 23-17 upset of the No. 4 Crimson Tide in 2014 in Oxford, one of the school’s biggest wins in recent memory.

8. QB Chad Kelly (2013-16)

Kelly didn’t get to play in Ole Miss’ 48-20 win against Oklahoma State in the 2015 Sugar Bowl because he was injured, but he played an important role in getting the Rebels to the Sugar Bowl for the first time in 46 years.

In fact, he did a whole lot during his tenure in Oxford. Kelly ranks 4th in Ole Miss history in career passing yards (6,800) and touchdown passes (50).

7. Marquis Haynes (2014-17)

Haynes was one of the most decorated freshmen in the SEC during the Rebels’ special defensive season, and he continued to have a significant impact for the rest of his career.

He tied what was then the school’s single-season record for sacks (10) during his sophomore season and finished his career as Ole Miss’ career leader in sacks (32).

6. DL Sam Williams (2019-21)

The single-season sack record that Haynes tied lasted another 6 years until Williams broke it when he made 12.5 sacks in 2021. Williams finished his career with 134 tackles, 32.5 tackles for loss and 22.5 sacks (3rd-most).

That productivity led the Dallas Cowboys to selected Williams in the 2nd round of the NFL Draft in April.

5. WR/RS Elijah Moore (2018-21)

Moore was a key weapon in coach Lane Kiffin establishing what his Rebels offense was going to be. Moore is tied for 3rd in career receptions (189), is 4th in receiving yards (2,441) and is tied for 6th in receiving touchdowns (16).

Like Williams, Moore was a 2nd-round draft choice in April, going to the New York Jets.

4. WR Laquon Treadwell (2013-15)

Treadwell was part of a large group of extremely productive receivers for the Rebels in the past 10 seasons.

He finished as the Rebels’ all-time leader in pass receptions (202), is 3rd in touchdown receptions (21) and 5th in receiving yards (2,393). Nobody could question his courage, either. Treadwell overcame the horrific, season-ending leg injury in 2014 to lead the SEC in receiving yards (1,153) and TD catches (11) in 2015.

3. WR AJ Brown (2016-18)

Brown was arguably the most prolific of all of these prolific Rebels wide receivers. He is Ole Miss’ career leader is receiving yards (2,984), is tied for 3rd in receptions (189) and is 5th in touchdown catches (19).

2. QB Bo Wallace (2012-14)

Ole Miss’ won-lost record increased each season that Wallace was running the offense.

He finished as the Rebels’ career leader in total offense (10,478) and is 2nd to Eli Manning in passing yards (9,534) and touchdown passes (62).

1. QB Matt Corral (2018-21)

Corral tops the list because he had outstanding statistics, helped lead one of the best team’s in school history and was the key to Kiffin establishing his imprint on the program in just 2 seasons.

Ole Miss set a school record with 10 regular-seasons wins in 2021 as Corral helped lead them to the Sugar Bowl. He then headed to the NFL after climbing to No. 3 among Rebels in career passing yards (8,287) and touchdown passes (57).