Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, Quinshon Judkins reiterate their focus on Peach Bowl, not on status for next season
ATLANTA — Many college football teams have music streaming through their locker room for motivation. For Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart and running back Quinshon Judkins, the number-one tune might come from about 40 years ago.
That is when The Clash had a hit with the song, “Should I Stay or Should I Go?”
At Thursday’s Ole Miss press conference ahead of Saturday’s Peach Bowl vs. Penn State, the two Rebel standouts were asked, yet again, about their plans for next season.
Each player adeptly deflected the questions and instead insisted their thoughts were only on the bowl game.
“I have a great support staff around me that’s able to give me really good advice. There’s a lot of things that go into it, but like I said, I’m just focused on this bowl game and going 1-0 this week.”
Jaxson Dart
Judkins echoed that emotion.
“I think just for me right now I’m at the point where I’m just focused on this bowl game, just going out with my guys. That’s my main focus is just to win this game.“
Quinshon Judkins
With the transfer portal players coming in and a solid freshman class, combined with the returning players and a favorable schedule, Ole Miss is expected to contend for the Southeastern Conference title next season. Many analysts have said the Rebels are almost a certain lock for the inaugural 12-team playoff in 2024.
I think (the new talent coming in) is definitely a factor that you look into,” Dart said.
“Obviously you want to play with really great players. But I think, like I said earlier, I think for both of us we’re just focused on this bowl game. We have a great relationship with the guys in the locker room and the coaching staff, and we love it here. So we’re really just focused on this bowl game and winning.”
Jaxson Dart
Judkins concurred with his teammate.
“Agree to what Jaxson said, just really focused on this last bowl game with the support of our coaches and just the great relationship with our teammates and the guys in the locker room,” Judkins said. “That’s our job is to just go out there and focus on this last game.”
This last game of 2023 is huge for Ole Miss. The Rebels have the chance to make history. A win over the Nittany Lions would give the program its first 11-game win season in school history.
Ole Miss and Penn State kick off at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 30. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
Steve Barnes
Steve Barnes joins The Rebel Walk staff as a senior writer and brings a trifecta of journalistic experience. As a writer, he has covered college sports for Rivals.com, Football.com and SaturdayDownSouth.com as well as served as a beat writer for various traditional newspapers.
He has been a broadcaster for arena football and several national tournament events for the National Junior College Athletic Association as well as hosting various shows on radio.
A former sports information director at Albany (Ga.) State University and an assistant at Troy and West Florida, he has helped host many NCAA conference, regional and national events, including serving five years on the media committee of the NCAA Division II World Series.
Barnes, a native of Pensacola, Fla., attended Ole Miss in 1983-84, where his first journalism teacher was David Kellum. The duo has come a long way since that time.
He will bring a proven journalistic track record, along with a knack for finding the out-of-the-ordinary story angles to The Rebel Walk.
Barnes continues to reside in Pensacola a mere ten minutes from the beach because he does have taste and a brain.
