There’s a certain weight to wearing No. 1 at Ole Miss.
It’s not just a number. It’s a lineage. Laquon Treadwell wore it. AJ Brown wore it. Jonathan Mingo wore it. De’Zhaun Stribling wore it. All of them reached the NFL.
All of them turned No. 1 into something more than fabric and stitching.
Deuce Alexander knows exactly what he stepped into when he put it on.
“It means a lot, just because of the history and all the great receivers who have worn it in the past,” Alexander said after Thursday’s preseason practice. “I looked at a chart today of the guys who wore No. 1 and what they’re doing now. It’s really motivating for me to know that I can be one of those guys.”
That’s not a player talking about a jersey. That’s a player talking about a standard set by the players who came before him.
Alexander wants to carry the legacy forward. He wants to be the next name on that chart. And if you look at the way he spent his offseason, it won’t be surprising if he does add his name to the chart.
He spent the offseason becoming a professional
Alexander didn’t sugarcoat it. He knows he’s getting close to the next level. He knows this could be his last year. And he knows what that means.
“It’s about becoming more of a professional because I’m getting toward the end of my college career,” he said. “I’m taking better care of my body, asking questions and doing all the little things the right way.”
That’s the part fans don’t see. The extra film. The recovery. The questions. The details. The maturity. Alexander didn’t just train to get better. He trained to become someone NFL teams can trust.
And it’s showing.
Teammates see the improvements
Linebacker Keaton Thomas didn’t hesitate when asked which receivers are the toughest to cover.
“If we’re talking about receivers, it has to be Deuce,” Thomas said. “It’s tough dealing with those bigger bodies. You have to get underneath them and can’t let them get their hands on you.”
That’s not a small compliment. Thomas sees every route, every rep, every matchup. He knows who’s easy to stay in front of and who isn’t. And Alexander is the one he singled out.
That’s the difference between offseason talk and on‑field reality. Alexander didn’t just get better. He became harder to defend.
The legacy of No. 1 is waiting
Ole Miss has had elite receivers before. They’ve had stars. They’ve had pros. They’ve had players who turned No. 1 into a brand.
Alexander wants to be next.
He stayed when he could have left. He worked like a professional. He earned the respect of his quarterback and the fear of defenders. And he’s stepping into a role that fits him better than any he’s had before.
The legacy of No. 1 isn’t given. It’s earned.
Alexander is earning it.
