Charlie Weis Jr. and Austin Simmons Aim to Keep the Ole Miss Offense Firing on All Cylinders; Rebels’ OC Credits a Team Effort in QB’s Development
OXFORD, Miss. — It was the turn of the offensive and defensive coordinators to hit the podium and discuss everything Ole Miss football heading into the 2025 season. Both had some exciting things to say about their side of the ball.
Simmons, Next Man Up at QB1
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. will have plenty of changes on offense with nine new starters on his side of the ball, including a new quarterback for the first time in three seasons. Jaxson Dart is now a New York Giants player in the NFL, and Austin Simmons now takes over as the future for the Rebels.
“It’s interesting comparing Austin (Simmons) to Jaxson (Dart) because we had Jaxson on three separate years (as a starter), and honestly, all three were totally different players, Weis Jr. said. “With Austin, he has had two years to develop, but he has never played full time, he’s never been the guy, the starter, and had all the things that come with that,” Weis began.
But what the Rebels do have this season is continued continuity with the staff.
Weis Jr. is beginning his fourth season with the Rebels , and quarterbacks coach Joe Judge is in his second season with the program.
“It’s huge because we got so many new players,” Weis Jr. explained.
“I think as a staff we’re all on the same page of what the plays are, what we’re running, what we’re trying to accomplish and now we’re able to let our coaches kind of go and get all the details nailed down…we’re all on the same page of what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Charlie Weis Jr
Weis Jr. continued, mentioning that Simmons is on the right path heading into his first year as a starter.
“It’s interesting comparing Austin to Jaxson because we had Jaxson for three separate years and all three were totally different players. With Austin, he’s had two years here to develop, but he’s never played full-time. Overall he’s on a great track. He’s certainly much further ahead than Jaxson was when he first got here in 2022 because that was his first year in the system. It’s certainly a collective effort from Coach Kiffin (and) Coach (Joe) Judge…I’m very grateful that we have Coach Kiffin and Coach Judge. We have a couple other staff members — Fisher Ray, Dane Stevens — that work with our quarterback and do a phenomenal job developing that position.“
Charlie Weis, Jr.
Simmons was initially a 2025 recruit but reclassified to the 2023 class, a rarity that speaks volumes about his mentality and intelligence. On the field, Weis Jr. has credited it as a full team effort to get the Florida native in the right place to help the team succeed on the field in 2025.
“It’s certainly a collective effort, said Weis Jr.
“From Coach Kiffin and the great details and mentorship he can give Austin from his experience throughout the years. Coach Judge does an unbelievable job of mentoring the quarterbacks, getting their minds ready, prepping them, teaching them coverages, defenses, and all the different things you need to do at the quarterback position. I’m so grateful we have the coaches and several other staff members that work with our quarterback and do a phenomenal job.”
Charlie Weis, Jr
A young leader at the helm
In 2025, Austin Simmons finds himself in a unique position — he’s one of the youngest Rebels on the roster, yet also one of its most experienced. Entering his third year in Oxford, Simmons will be tasked with managing the offense while still trusting his instincts when the game is on the line. Striking that balance will be critical to his success.
“It’s a difficult balance. It’s interesting because on one hand you’ve got a guy who’s been here for three years and on one he’s still 19 years old. It’s certainly a fine line,” Weis explained.
“I think the cool thing now is the coach to player headset communication. Between Coach Kiffin and myself, we’re able to give him some good reminders to kind of help lead him as the game progresses. I think as the season starts, we’ll get to see him grow and continue to get better.“
Charlie Weis Jr.
Simmons gained valuable experience in 2024, appearing in nine games as a redshirt freshman. His most notable moment came against No. 2 Georgia when he engineered a touchdown drive against the Bulldogs’ starting defense — a sequence that gave Rebel fans a glimpse of his poise and potential.
Now in his third season working with Simmons, offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. has a clear understanding of what his quarterback does best — and where the growth opportunities remain.
“We know that the certain throws that he throws really well and we’ll try to formulate our offense that accentuate those throws,” Weis Jr. said. “And there’s certain throws where he needs to get better at and we’re continuing to work on that.”
Perhaps the biggest adjustment for Simmons this offseason has been stepping into the role of offensive leader following the departure of Jaxson Dart.
“I think with Austin they’re certainly several things that we wanted to work on. Number one, it was a big deal for him taking over his leadership because you’re replacing a guy with Jaxson who was an alpha type guy. I think it was a big deal for us transitioning Austin into that leadership style and let him be who he is. He doesn’t need to be Jaxson Dart, he doesn’t need to be Matt Corral — he can be Austin,” Ole Miss’ offensive coordinator said. “It’s been really cool seeing his transition over time and how he’s handled that.”
Next Up
Rebel fans get their first chance to see Simmons as the starter when Ole Miss hosts Georgia State on August 30 at Vaught-Hemingway. Kickoff is set for 6:45 p.m.
Jordan Merritt
Jordan is a freelance writer who covers sports, games, and more. A United Kingdom native, he covers everything Ole Miss for The Rebel Walk. He has written for several publications, including Athlon Sports, On SI, Fansided, and others. Away from writing, he loves spending time with his family and watching films and TV series.
