Kewan Lacy: Chasing Records and SEC Title

Kewan Lacy has taken college football by storm in his first season at Ole Miss, establishing himself as one of the premier running backs in the Southeastern Conference. The sophomore transfer from Missouri has not only injected new life into the Rebels' offense but has also put his name in the Ole Miss record books multiple times already this season.

Record-Breaking Debut Season

Lacy has been the engine behind Ole Miss' fifth-best rushing offense in the SEC, which has accumulated 2,076 yards and leads the conference with 31 rushing touchdowns. His personal contributions have been staggering: 1,136 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns through 11 games.

"It comes with having a support system like my coaches just trusting and believing in me," Lacy said of his success. "Coming in here, putting in long hours of watching film with my coaches. Going through walkthroughs. It's just a great feeling coming out here and showing what I to do and having the ability with my O-line and the receivers. Showing it out there and going 1-0 (each week)."

The SEC Rushing Title Race

While Lacy has established himself as the second-leading rusher in the conference, he remains mathematically alive in the race for the SEC regular season rushing crown. Currently trailing Missouri's Ahmad Hardy (his replacement at Missouri) by 267 yards, Lacy has a realistic chance to make up ground in the season finale.

The matchup couldn't be more favorable for Lacy's quest. He'll face Mississippi State, which boasts the worst rush defense in the SEC. Just a week ago, the Bulldogs surrendered 300 rushing yards to none other than Hardy. With Missouri's final game against Arkansas potentially limiting Hardy's production, the door is open for Lacy to make a late-season surge.

Already an Ole Miss Legend

What makes Lacy's season even more remarkable is that he's already etched his name in the Ole Miss record books multiple times:

• Most Touchdowns in a Season: His 19 rushing touchdowns have surpassed Quinshon Judkins' previous record of 16 set in 2022.
• All-Purpose Touchdowns: Lacy has also broken Judkins' single-season all-purpose touchdown record.
• Rushing Attempts: With 231 carries through 11 games, he's just 43 behind Judkins' single-season record set in 2022.
• Rushing Plays Per Game: He's on pace to break Steve Hindman's 58-year-old record of 21.5 plays per game, currently averaging 21 per game.

Elite Performance Metrics

Lacy's excellence isn't just reflected in the box score. According to Pro Football Focus, he holds the highest run grade among all SEC running backs at 88.4, underscoring his elite performance on the field.

While some of the most prestigious Ole Miss records may remain out of reach this season—Charlie Flowers' yards per play record (7.4) set in 1957 and John Dottley's yards per game record (131.2) set in 1949—Lacy's accomplishments have been nothing short of historic.

His selection as the first Doak Walker Award finalist in Ole Miss history further validates his outstanding season and places him among the elite running backs in college football.

The Final Stretch

With at least two more games guaranteed this season—including the postseason—Lacy appears destined to add more records to his already impressive collection. To break Judkins' single-season rushing yardage record of 1,567, he would need to average just over 217 yards in his final two games.

As the Egg Bowl approaches, all eyes will be on Lacy to see if he can continue his historic run, potentially claim the SEC rushing title, and further cement his legacy as one of the greatest running backs in Ole Miss history.