Linebacker still up for many awards.

OXFORD – The Patrick Willis era is over at Ole Miss but it ended with the Egg Bowl Trophy back in Oxford following the Rebels’ 20-17 win over Mississippi State Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Willis, a Butkus Award candidate which honors the nation’s best collegiate linebacker, finished his Ole Miss career with 13 tackles (seven solos) against Mississippi State.

On Wednesday night, Willis will see if he wins the Conerly Trophy, an honor given to the state’s best collegiate football player. The consensus All-American posted 137 tackles this season, the most for an Ole Miss linebacker since Abdul Jackson in 1994.

While Willis is humble about the individual attention, he was elated to win his last game in a Rebel uniform.

&#8220It means a lot to bring the Egg Bowl Trophy back home. To win my last game at Ole Miss, is special. We may not have won them all, but we won the last one,” Willis said.

Now the future begins. Willis will probably have his pick of which college all-star game to go to. He’ll also have a shot at the postseason hardware, which may include the Butkus Award. Two Butkus Award scouts were among the 57,658 in attendance for the Egg Bowl.

&#8220I’ll get with my agent and we’ll decide on which game. I just hope to go on to the next level and be a factor in the NFL. But I know its going to be a challenge,” Willis said.

And as for Ole Miss, Willis says the new leader for the Rebels’ defense for 2007 will be former Vicksburg High linebacker Rory Johnson.

&#8220Rory is going to be the one in the spotlight now,” Willis said. &#8220He just needs to stay focused and use the gift God has given him.”

Johnson had a solid Egg Bowl with 11 tackles (five solos). It was the sixth time in the last seven games he’s had more than 10 tackles in a game. Over the last seven games, he’s made 87 stops.

For a good part of the second half against State, Johnson and Willis were lined up as defensive ends.

&#8220It gave us more speed on the pass rush and Patrick was able to get a sack and Rory was able to get some pressure,” coach Ed Orgeron said. &#8220I would say Rory played end almost all the third down snaps.”

With a win over State in hand, Orgeron was already planning for next season.

&#8220It means a lot, especially since we’ve been so close at the end in other games. But I feel like we fell short this season. The games with LSU (a 23-20 loss in OT) and Alabama (a 26-23 loss in OT), are the ones we need to find a way to win.

&#8220Winning the Egg Bowl is not our ultimate goal. Our goal is to go to the Sugar Bowl,” Orgeron said. &#8220I’m happy for our nine seniors that they won today because they have stuck by me for the last two years.

&#8220Now, we’ve got to start work on recruiting immediately. I felt like we made strides in our offensive line this season. We need to get more and better defensive linemen.

&#8220We’ve got a big hole to fill with Patrick (Willis) leaving but we’ve got Rory (Johnson) coming back.”

One topic of debate may be at quarterback. Former Hinds Community College starter Seth Adams played most of the fourth quarter. He was 1-of-3 passing for 11 yards.

Regular starter Brent Schaeffer was 9-of-19 for 131 yards with one touchdown, that going to defensive end Greg Hardy, normally a defensive end, for 23 yards.

&#8220I felt confident the past two weeks,” Adams said. &#8220I was put in a pair of tight situations here and at LSU. I feel like I can move the team.”

Eyster, Willis, Fletcher finalists for state’s top college football honor.

From staff reports.

Scott Eyster will be making his fourth appearance at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in a quest to win the Conerly Trophy.

The record-setting Delta State quarterback is a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy as the top player in Division II. He has been a Conerly Trophy finalist the past three years, but has yet to win.

The competition will be just as challenging this year.

Ole Miss standout linebacker Patrick Willis, the 2004 Conerly Trophy winner, and dynamic Southern Miss freshman running back Damion Fletcher round out the finalists for the 11th installment of the annual trophy.

Named in honor of former Ole Miss and NFL standout Charlie Conerly, the trophy is presented to the top football player at any of Mississippi’s four-year, football-playing schools.

The presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

Eyster led the Statesmen to the Division II semifinals against North Alabama, which will be played on Saturday.

Willis is up for many major national defensive awards including the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in the country.

Fletcher set the all-time Southern Miss freshman rushing record on Saturday night.