Eli Manning on Saturday will be just the third player in Ole Miss’ history to have his number retired, joining his father Archie Manning (18) and Chucky Mullins (38).

He put up some historic numbers for Ole Miss, and was a four-year letterwinner for the Rebels from 2000-03, won the 2003 Maxwell Award, an honor given to the best all-around player in college football. The New Orleans, Louisiana native set or tied 47 Ole Miss single‑game, season and career records during his time in Oxford.

“Just excited about it, obviously, I love Ole Miss,” Manning said. “I loved my time here, still, am a fan and watch the team and root for the team, and when I was playing and even more now when I get to keep up with it. Grew up an Ole Miss fan, coming to games, coming to The Grove, and watching them on TV and get to be here for 5 years. To have my jersey retired up there next to my dad and Chucky Mullins is going to be special.”

Manning, who finished third in the 2003 Heisman Trophy ballot following his senior season, finished his illustrious Ole Miss career with a school-record 10,119 career passing yards and 81 career TD passes. He also set new Ole Miss career records for completions (829) and passing attempts (1,363), and both marks ranked fourth on the SEC career lists.