EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

SI Scouting Reports 1. Nebraska 2. Florida State 3. Alabama 4. Michigan 5. Wisconsin 6. Kansas State 7. Georgia 8. Clemson 9. Texas 10. Miami 11. Florida 12. Virginia Tech 13. Washington 14. Tennessee 15. TCU 16. Purdue 17. Mississippi 18. USC 19. Penn State 20. Southern Miss 21. Illinois 22. Ohio State 23. Oklahoma 24. Colorado State 25. Colorado ----------------- The Master List: 1-115 Lower Division Rankings

17. Mississippi

If the Deuce gets loose -- and he surely will -- the Rebels can contend for the SEC title

By Pete McEntegart

The Book An opposing team's coach sizes up the Rebels "They overachieved last year. I really respect the coaching job Cutcliffe did. Any time you take over a new team, it's hard.... That back is pretty good, ol' Deuce. He's probably the best back in the country for his size and speed. Reminds me of Eric Dickerson. He's got that gait. It's hard to find a guy that powerful who just runs by people.... Losing those two big tackles [Tutan Reyes and Todd Wade] hurts.... They don't really have any receivers."

The birth certificate reads Dulymus Jenod McAllister. Most everyone calls him Deuce, a name the senior running back picked up when he donned that number as an eighth-grader in Morton, Miss., before doubling it to 22 when he arrived at Ole Miss. In Costa Rica, where McAllister spent three weeks this summer taking Spanish for 7 1/2 hours a day because -- get this -- he wants to graduate early and was eager to experience another culture, the locals called him Dos. Mel Kiper Jr. calls him the projected first pick of the 2001 NFL draft. Ole Miss coach David Cutcliffe calls the 6'1", 220-pounder the best blend of size and speed he's been around. Judging by the Rebels' publicity materials, his name might as well be Heisman Trophy Candidate Deuce McAllister.

The Heisman machine is already in gear for McAllister.  Andy Lyons/Allsport

As for Deuce, he just wants to be called a player when Jan. 1 rolls around. "We had the shackles of probation on when I got here," McAllister says. "Now we've been to three consecutive bowl games, and the new goal is to be in a New Year's bowl."

In 1999 McAllister led the SEC in all-purpose yardage with 1,692, topping the more heralded Shaun Alexander of Alabama. McAllister comes up biggest in big games, having scored seven touchdowns in three bowl appearances -- three rushing, three receiving and one on a kickoff return. That versatility has made Deuce the first Rebel the school has pushed for the Heisman since Archie Manning finished third in the 1970 voting.

The Rebels won't be a dominating team, but considering that their four losses in '99 were by a total of 15 points, they are poised to take a major step forward. "We've opened some eyes, but our work is not done," McAllister says. "Until we win the SEC and compete for the national championship, we aren't going to garner the respect we want."

How about an SEC title and a Heisman Trophy winner? That would be quite a deuce indeed.

Issue date: August 14, 2000

Copyright © 2001 CNN/Sports Illustrated An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.