Defensive End Cedric Johnson Earns 2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award

Johnson is a senior at Ole Miss entering this season and was awarded the honor on Thursday.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss Rebels defensive end Cedric Johnson was announced as the winner of the 2023 Chucky Mullins Courage Award on Thursday evening.

Johnson, one of three Rebels who represented the team at SEC Media Days in July, is a senior defensive end at Ole Miss, and the Mobile, Ala., native is the 33rd recipient of the award.

The honor is bestowed annually to an Ole Miss defensive player to honor the late Chucky Mullins whose Rebels career was cut short in a 1989 homecoming game against the Vanderbilt Commodores. Mullins was paralyzed making a tackle during that game, and he later passed away in 1991 after completing his coursework at Ole Miss. The award is sponsored annually by the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.

"It means a lot to me, to say the least," Johnson said. "I honestly can't even explain how I'm feeling right now. It's an honor to be chosen by the coaches and the players.

"[Chucky] means a lot to everyone here," Johnson continued. "Just the spirit he carried throughout the whole building, the spirit that he spread onto everyone, just the positive energy that he put on everyone. I feel like I can do that myself, and just bring the positive energy and good spirit to everyone that I touch."

Johnson has certainly made his mark on Oxford during his time with the Rebels. He is a Bednarik Award watch list member and has been named Preseason All-SEC by Phil Steele (first team), Athlon (third team) and Lindy's (third team). He is also the Rebels' active career sack leader with 13.5.

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