Suntarine Perkins
Head coach Pete Golding unveiled the winner of the 2026 Chucky Mullins Courage Award, selecting senior linebacker Suntarine Perkins as the 36th recipient of the honor on Saturday.
The award, sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, honors the late Chucky Mullins, who had his Ole Miss career come to an end during the 1989 Homecoming game against Vanderbilt when he was paralyzed after making a tackle. After returning to his studies at Ole Miss, Mullins passed away May 6, 1991.
Preparing for his fourth year with the Rebels, Perkins comes off a 2025 season where he finished second on the team in total tackles with 81, while adding 12.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a pair of fumble recoveries, six pass breakups, and an interception.
A member of the preseason watch list for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2025 and 2026, Perkins also earned preseason honors for this year from the media members as he was selected to the preseason all-SEC second team.
The Chucky Mullins Courage Award is presented annually to an Ole Miss upperclassman defensive player that embodies the spirit of Mullins – courage, leadership, perseverance and determination.
Former Chucky Mullins Courage Award recipients are Chris Mitchell, Jeff Carter, Trea Southerland, Johnny Dixon, Alundis Brice, Michael Lowery, Derek Jones, Nate Wayne, Gary Thigpen, Heard, Anthony Magee, Kevin Thomas, Lanier Goethie, Jamil Northcutt, Eric Oliver, Kelvin Robinson, Patrick Willis, Jeremy Garrett, Jamarca Sanford, Marcus Tillman, Kentrell Lockett, Deterrian Shackelford (twice), Jason Jones, Mike Marry, Mike Hilton, John Youngblood, Marquis Haynes, C.J. Moore, Austrian Robinson, Jaylon Jones, Keidron Smith, KD Hill, Cedric Johnson, JJ Pegues, and Tyler Banks.
Coming off a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance a season ago, the Ole Miss football team is set to kickoff the 2026 season on Sunday, September 6 against Louisville at 6:30 p.m. CT at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee.