Every 1,000-Yard Rusher in Ole Miss Football History
By Chris Wright
Last Updated:
Let’s face it: Ole Miss is a quarterback factory — and not only because of the Mannings.
Entering the 2025 season, the Rebels have almost as many 3,000-yard passers (9) as they do 1,000-yard rushers (10). And one of their 1,000-yard rushers — John Rhys Plumlee — was a quarterback.
But did you know: Ole Miss legend John “Kayo” Dottley set the SEC single-season rushing record with 1,312 yards in 1949 — and held the record until 1977!
Credit Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin for re-emphasizing the run as part of his up-tempo attack. The most recent Rebel to rush for 1,000 twice in a career — Quinshon Judkins — did so under Kiffin. Transfer Kewan Lacy joined the Rebels’ 1,000-yard club Week 12 of 2025 — and has a legitimate chance to break Judkins’ single-season record.
Here’s a complete look at Ole Miss’ 1,000-yard rushers.
Ole Miss’ 1,000-Yard Rushers
Kayo Dottley, the first 1,000-yard rusher in Ole Miss history, also was the first Rebel to reach 1,000 yards twice. But he’s not the only Rebel to accomplish that.
Ole Miss’ Single-Season Rushing Record Progression
Some SEC programs have had more than 5 players hold the single-season rushing record, once somebody passed the 1,000-yard mark.
Not Ole Miss.
The Rebels’ record book has only been updated twice (bold indicates year record was broken):
Every 1,000-Yard Rusher by SEC School
Here’s the complete history for every SEC school’s 1,000-yard rushers and single-season record holders:
- Alabama’s 1000-yard rushers
- Arkansas’ 1000-yard rushers
- Auburn’s 1000-yard rushers
- Florida’s 1000-yard rushers
- Georgia’s 1000-yard rushers
- Kentucky’s 1000-yard rushers
- LSU’s 1000-yard rushers
- Mississippi State’s 1000-yard rushers
- Missouri’s 1000-yard rushers
- Oklahoma’s 1000-yard rushers
- Ole Miss’ 1000-yard rushers
- South Carolina’s 1000-yard rushers
- Tennessee’s 1000-yard rushers
- Texas’ 1000-yard rushers
- Texas A&M’s 1000-yard rushers
- Vanderbilt’s 1000-yard rushers
Managing Editor
A 30-time APSE award-winning editor with previous stints at the Miami Herald, The Indianapolis Star and News & Observer, Executive Editor Chris Wright oversees editorial operations for Saturday Down South.
