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Ole Miss Rebels

Young Ole Miss fan sends letter to Laquon Treadwell

Jordan Cox

By Jordan Cox

Published:

Seven-year-old Tanner Harris watched Saturday night as Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell — Harris’ favorite player– suffered a horrific injury in the Rebels’ loss to Auburn.

On Sunday, he sent Treadwell a letter.

Dear Laquon,

You are my favorite Ole Miss football player. I enjoy watching you every week. For Christmas I am asking Santa to bring me a #1 jersey. I’m so sorry you hurt your leg and ankle. I hope you get better soon. 

Your #1 fan,

Tanner Harris

Many of us watched Saturday night as Treadwell battled and stretched for the goal line as he was being pulled down from behind by Auburn linebacker Kris Frost.

After watching what initially looked to be the go-ahead touchdown, but was overturned and ruled a fumble, many of us held our breath as Treadwell writhed on the turf in pain, having clearly suffered a gruesome injury.

Tanner, with his parents and Ole Miss alums Josh and Karen, were fixated on their beloved Rebels game.

The series of events would take on a toll on even the toughest adult, let alone a 7 year old. The scene in the Harris home went from excitement to tears in a matter of seconds. Josh Harris consoled his weeping son while trying to explain why the tackle wasn’t a horse collar.

The Harris’s are die-hard Ole Miss fans, but Tanner recognized — innocently — the weight of the moment when Treadwell was carted off the field with less than 90 seconds left in the game.

“Tanner is a pure fan, right down to his bones,” Josh told Billy Watkins of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. “Yes, he’s 7 years old. He’s my son and, of course, I’m biased. But I think he understands much more football than most kids his age. He was asking me [Sunday] about the [national] rankings and where Ole Miss might fit in. He is as entrenched as a 7-year-old can be.”

Josh grew up in Oxford — he was there when Chucky Mullins was injured — and he and Karen used to buy season tickets.

They began attending games again this season now that Tanner is old enough to make it through the entire game.

Josh isn’t sure how or why Tanner picked Treadwell as his favorite player.

“I’m just thankful he did,” Josh said in an interview with the Clarion-Ledger. “We are a Christian family, and as a parent you are concerned about who your children choose to look up to. And let’s face it, these football players are like Spiderman and Superman in real life to young kids. You hope they choose players that are good role models, and I know that’s the case.

“Just watch how Treadwell presents himself, not only on the field but off. He’s not a ‘me’ guy. Guys like Treadwell and [safety] Cody Prewitt — Tanner’s other favorite player — realize they are a part of something bigger than themselves. That’s rare in today’s sports.”

Karen helped Tanner address the letter to Treadwell.

“We hope he gets it,” Josh told the Clarion-Ledger. “We hope it will be a pick-me-up while Laquon goes through a really tough time, not being able to play these last three games.”

Jordan Cox

After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.

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