Ole Miss Quarterback Legacy on Display at Manning Passing Academy; Rebels Recount Impact of Jaxson Dart
THIBODAUX, La. — It’s a Rebel reunion of epic proportions down in Louisiana this weekend as current and former Ole Miss quarterbacks gather under the bright lights of the Manning Passing Academy. From Hall of Famers Archie and Eli Manning, to current and former gunslingers Austin Simmons, Walker Howard, and Luke Altmyer—the quarterback lineage runs deep and strong in Oxford.
Year 29 of the MPA! pic.twitter.com/cONza7pjr4
— Eli Manning (@EliManning) June 28, 2025
While the camp has long been a proving ground for some of the best arms in the country, this year it doubles as a celebration of the quarterback tradition at Ole Miss—and a look ahead at what’s to come. WLOX Sports’ Matt DeGregorio spoke with Simmons, Howard and Altmyer on their time with Dart.
Austin Simmons, Walker Howard, and Luke Altmyer will all be starting QBs in the fall.
All three signal callers discussed the impact that first-round pick Jaxson Dart had on their respective careers: pic.twitter.com/FpsbQo6nKi
— Matt DeGregorio (@Matt_DeGregorio) June 28, 2025
Austin Simmons: The Next Man Up
With Dart now calling plays for the New York Giants, sophomore Simmons steps into the spotlight as the likely starter for the Rebels this fall. He’s using his time at the Manning Academy to sharpen his craft—but also to reflect on the lessons learned from his mentor.
“Seeing how he approached every single game, the type of mindset he did…and really just handling adversity,” Simmons told DeGregorio.
“This SEC is the toughest conference in college football, and just seeing how he handled everything, when he was in the film room, how often he was at the facility every single day, just seeing how round he is as a quarterback is something special to look at.“
Austin Simmons on Jaxson Dart
Simmons saw limited action behind Dart during the 2024 campaign, but Rebel fans remember his clutch performance against Georgia, where he led a pivotal touchdown drive in Dart’s absence. He finished the year with 282 passing yards, two touchdowns, and a completion rate that turned heads in Oxford and beyond.
Walker Howard: From Oxford to Louisiana-Lafayette
Another familiar face at the camp is Walker Howard, who began his collegiate journey at LSU before transferring to Ole Miss and then later transferring to play at Louisiana-Lafayette. With a starting job now within reach, Howard speaks glowingly about his time with Dart.
“That guy wasn’t scared of anything,” Howard said of Dart.
“…Watching him play, he’s very physical. He did an unbelievable job and he won the teammates over. He won the team, won the fans and he did an unbelievable job. That’s what I want to do (at Louisiana-Lafayette).“
Walker Howard on Jaxson Dart
Howard also spoke to his personal relationship with Dart.
”We were really cool. He’s my boy, and we’ve been through a lot together. I’ll be there for him. he’s been there for me. That’s how our relationship is.”
Walker Howard on Dart
Luke Altmyer: No Regrets, Only Growth
Luke Altmyer, now firmly entrenched as the starting quarterback at Illinois, was part of one of the most high-profile quarterback competitions in Ole Miss history. Though Dart ultimately got the starting nod, Altmyer’s path speaks to his own resilience and grit as he left it all on the field.
“We competed hard, and I gave it my all,” Altmyer shared of his time at Ole Miss with Dart.
Last season, Altmyer led the Fighting Illini to their first 10-win season since 2001 as they finished 10-3 with a 6-3 league record. It was one of the biggest turnarounds in college football in 2024, after a 5-7 2023 season, as head coach Brett Bielema’s team shocked the college football world.
Altmyer looked back on his time at Ole Miss and knows it has made him a stronger person and player.
“I gave it my best every single day. I didn’t waste a day. To be in that position with a guy who is a first rounder, he did a lot of cool things in college. It’s cool to look back and be in that position. I believed in myself every single day and gave it my best. It only gives me confidence to be able to compete with the best of the best. It was good for me and my future, my character. Man it was difficult but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Luke Altmyer on his time at Ole Miss with Dart
What’s Next
With the quarterback torch now passed to Simmons, the Rebels are gearing up for a highly anticipated 2025 season opener on Saturday, August 30, against Georgia State in Oxford.
From legends to rising stars, the 2025 Manning Passing Academy is once again a reminder that Oxford remains one of the most respected destinations for quarterback development. The legacy is alive, the future is bright—and it’s still a great time to be a Rebel.
David Walker
David Walker was named Louisiana’s High School Player of the Year at just 16 years old and, at 17, became college football’s first quarterback to earn Freshman of the Year honors. He remains the NCAA’s youngest-ever starting quarterback, a distinction that has stood for decades.
Transitioning from a wide-open high school offense to Emory Bellard’s renowned wishbone triple option, Walker excelled as a dual-threat quarterback. He graduated as Texas A&M’s all-time winningest quarterback and served as a two-time team captain, helping to transform a program that had endured 15 losing seasons in the previous 16 years.
After his playing career, Walker coached and taught algebra at six Texas high schools before moving into private business. In 2011, he published his memoir, “I’ll Tell You When You’re Good,” a title inspired by the coaching philosophy of Shannon Suarez, the Sulphur High and Louisiana High School Hall of Fame coach who was a significant influence on Walker’s life and career.
Walker’s compelling storytelling in his autobiography reflects the breadth of his experiences in high school and college football, and it is an undeniable fact that he saw more action than any athlete in the history of the NCAA. Since 2013, he has contributed to The Rebel Walk, sharing his insights and expertise with readers.
