2024 NFL mock draft: Where top Ole Miss Rebels prospects are projected to land

OXFORD ― Draft day has arrived, but it might take another sunrise or two before the first Ole Miss football product comes off the board.

The Rebels sent three players to the NFL Draft combine this winter: Cedric Johnson, Daijahn Anthony and Deantre Prince. They've also got a handful of fringe draft prospects to keep an eye on. Wideout Dayton Wade, a fan favorite in Oxford, fits that category.

So what should Ole Miss fans expect?

Here's a look at where the Rebels' top NFL Draft prospects could go.

DE Cedric Johnson in the middle rounds

Typically, nearing the NFL Draft means nearing a consensus on a prospect. That doesn't seem to be the case with Johnson, whose mock draft projections this week range from the third to the seventh round. That doesn't narrow it down too much, does it? Johnson is a four-year contributor with good-but-not-great sack numbers in the SEC. His draft combine performance positioned him well, too. The Bills, Cowboys and Steelers have been mentioned by experts among the possible destinations for Johnson.

CB Deantre Prince in the late rounds

Prince's path at Ole Miss came with roadblocks. After spending a season with the Rebels, he returned to junior college amid what he called "immaturity" and family tragedy. He came back to the Rebels a year later and became one of the most influential members of their secondary. He's rarely been flashy, but he's epitomized consistency within different defensive systems. And, like most on this list, Prince had a really strong combine showing. Keep an eye out for Prince on the third day of the draft. The Cardinals and Falcons have been touted among his possible landing spots.

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S Daijahn Anthony in the late rounds

Anthony made a pair of pit stops before arriving at high-level football. He began his collegiate career at Division II Shepherd (W. Va.) University, which produced Chicago Bears quarterback Tyson Bagent. He then moved on to Liberty, where he wasn't always a fixture in Hugh Freeze's starting lineup. Ole Miss liked his athletic profile and took a chance on him, landing an impact player who didn't look at all out of place in the SEC. Anthony plays physical, downhill football from the safety position. A former corner at Liberty, he's got a versatile skill set. Most prognosticators have him as a Day Three selection, with the Ravens, Falcons and Eagles among the projected destinations.

Dayton Wade among Ole Miss football players with outside chance to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft

Dayton Wade is another name to watch. The former walk-on became one of the most productive receivers in the SEC last fall, but it wasn't enough to earn him a combine invite. All it takes is one organization to like his film, though. Another interesting option is Zakhari Franklin, a wide receiver who rarely played following his transfer from UTSA. Defenders Isaac Ukwu, Ashanti Cistrunk and Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste are long shots to be drafted but should be scooped up as undrafted free agents.

David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.

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This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: NFL mock draft 2024: Ole Miss Rebels prospect projections