Jaxson Dart Embracing QB Competition, Ready For 2023: ‘I Don’t Think My Self Confidence Has Ever Been In Doubt’
OXFORD, Miss. – Ole Miss football is in a unique place this season. Quarterback battles haven’t really been a prominent feature for the Rebels in recent history. Bo Wallace, Chad Kelly, Jordan Ta’amu, Shea Patterson, and Matt Corral were all solid picks to be the starter in their respective seasons right from the beginning. (You could argue that John Rhys Plumlee threw a “kink” in the race in his tenure at Ole Miss, but it became clear pretty early that he would only be used in specialized situations.)
In 2023, that’s all changing.
Jaxson Dart is returning following a 2022 campaign that saw him throw for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns, completing 62 percent of his 362 attempts.
Made 'em pay.@JaxsonDart ➡️ @ogmingo1k pic.twitter.com/3jYCjGf89x
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) November 12, 2022
Wow, that escalated quickly.@JaxsonDart ➡️ @ogmingo1k
🖥 https://t.co/Rym42sXetF pic.twitter.com/qNdODWLIez— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) October 8, 2022
He was no slouch with the ball in his hands either, rushing for 614 yards, good enough for third on the team, with one rushing touchdown.
Get you a QB who knows how to use the truck stick. 😳@JaxsonDart | #HottyToddy
🖥 https://t.co/W1ip3Qgr1N pic.twitter.com/T6Z8koCahV— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) September 17, 2022
UP AND OVER! @JaxsonDart 😳 pic.twitter.com/pibyCR84ua
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) December 29, 2022
Dart is in a good position as the incumbent starter, and the job is his to lose. But Lane Kiffin is doing what all good coaches do: making sure the team has options. And not just options, but good options.
The Ole Miss quarterback room is absolutely loaded, with Dart being joined by Oklahoma State fifth year senior transfer Spencer Sanders, along with five-star LSU transfer Walker Howard, and four-star freshman Austin Simmons who flipped to the Rebs from Florida.
While Howard and Simmons are huge young names, it is likely Sanders who will be battling Dart to lead the Rebels’ offense into the fray in less than 30 days.
Sanders threw for 2,642 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022, completing 57 percent of his 368 passes.
Quinton Stewart's first career reception goes for six.#DAT | 📺 @ESPNCFB pic.twitter.com/8okiSJEivQ
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 20, 2022
J-Nix for six 👊#DAT | @TheJadenNixon pic.twitter.com/GVl61XpwJp
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) November 14, 2022
Sanders was the number two rusher for the Cowboys as well, taking off for 391 yards and eight rushing TD’s during last year’s campaign.
ARE YOU SERIOUS @SpenceSanders
📺: @ESPNCFB #DAT | #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/VuLNoSIhrk
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) October 15, 2022
#TBT to this game-changing run from @SpenceSanders 💨#NextLevel I #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/dvfK6TTfVA
— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) March 3, 2022
Bring On The Competition
Lane Kiffin’s motto with Ole Miss football has always been “pro mindset.” If you play for the Rebels, you are going to be treated like a pro, and thus you are expected to act like one. Part of being a pro is competition and hard work, and Jaxson Dart isn’t afraid of it.
“I’m competitive regardless of who’s around me. I don’t think my status or my self confidence has ever been in doubt, and I’ve never wavered from it. I knew from year one to year two I was going to make big strides in my game, and bringing them along it’s been able to create a very competitive room, and that just makes you better. Competition breeds success and puts you in the best situation to succeed and win games.“
Jaxson Dart
Watching both Dart and Sanders on day one of fall camp, one thing is clear: this will be an incredibly exciting battle, and Lane Kiffin isn’t going to take it lightly.
When asked about why it takes so long to determine the outcome of a quarterback battle, Kiffin gave perhaps one of the best answers he’s ever given in a press conference.
“I’ve talked to him. [Jaxson Dart] Those quarterback competitions, those have to happen and go later than the player wants them to. Certainly, the player wants to be the quarterback and doesn’t want that to keep dragging on, but that’s not my job to please one player. I’ve got to do what’s best for the team. That’s why it’s so long, to make sure, with the most information we have, that we make the best decision. I have no problem that players get frustrated sometimes, but I think we communicate really well with them so they understand what’s going on and why we’re doing the things we do.“
Lane Kiffin
While Kiffin did mention that the competition would not carry into the season ideally, he made it clear that he isn’t going to make a quick, uninformed decision, stating “if it doesn’t show itself, I feel like you have to (carry into the season).”
Fall camp will run the full month of August, and we will continue to update you on the competition throughout its entirety.
Keeping His Head Straight
Despite the quarterback battle, Dart hasn’t forgotten about the guys who matter most to him as a quarterback: the men in the trenches.
We had an opportunity to speak with Jaxson after Wednesday’s first practice of fall camp and get his thoughts on the upcoming battle.
“We have a lot of guys who are coming and a lot of guys with a ton of experience. As our team is, everything starts in the trenches and those guys being able to move guys off the ball… Those are some of my best friends on the team. As a quarterback, you’ve got to take care of your offensive line, but at the same time, those are my best friends. Being able to build those relationships and take that next step as teammates and friends has brought us together and I’m super excited to see it show on the field.”
Jaxson Dart on his offensive line
Dart also spoke of the benefit of having a great running back like Quinshon Judkins in the backfield with him.
“He was the best running back in the country last year. I’ve never played with somebody with his skill set at the running back position. He takes so much stress off of you as a quarterback, being able to suck linebackers in on play action and stuff like that. I think the big thing for him that I’ve realized, regardless of all the attention or preseason accolades, postseason accolades that he had from last year, his work ethic has stayed the exact same. He has much bigger goals than what he wants to do in college football, he wants to make this a life for himself. It’s pretty inspiring to see a guy like that, so young, be mature about it and never be satisfied with where he’s at.”
Jaxson Dart on Quinshon Judkins
Fall camp continues Thursday evening.
The full comments from Dart can be viewed here:
(Feature image credit: Josh McCoy, Ole Miss)
Austin Eldridge
Austin has more than ten years in sports media, including sports talk radio, play-by-play broadcasting and journalism. He has followed Ole Miss athletics for his entire life and has covered the Rebels and the rest of the SEC while working in the Memphis media market. Outside of sports media, Austin is a musician and outdoorsman. Before a serious accident forced him to be medically discharged, he was a multi-media journalist with the Mississippi National Guard.
