Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin spoke about starting quarterback Jaxson Dart during a spring press conference Tuesday.
Dart, who transferred from the USC Trojans, has been the starter for the Ole Miss Rebels since 2022. Dart had an opportunity to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, but he elected to stay with Lane Kiffin and the Rebels for another year.
Ole Miss Rebels HC Lane Kiffin had high praise for Jaxson Dart
When speaking about Dart in the spring press conference, Lane Kiffin had high praise for the experienced SEC starter. Dart’s ability as a leader and a recruiter was praised by the head coach heading into his fifth year with the Rebels.
High praise for Jaxson Dart’s leadership 👏@Lane_Kiffin | #HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/f3Xmx9TRp9
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) March 19, 2024
Dart’s leadership efforts have paid off for Kiffin and the Rebels. Ole Miss currently sits at No. 3 in On3’s team transfer portal rankings with an On3 Team Transfer Portal Index score of 69. On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index is described on the On3 website:
“On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index utilizes the On3 (P)erformance score to measure a team’s production during the transfer process, compared relative against its roster and not a comparison against other schools. This proprietary algorithm determines if a school has improved its overall team talent, stayed the same, or declined in talent during the transfer window,” On3’s website says.
Only four teams in the entire nation have a score over 40. The Louisville Cardinals (91), the Colorado Buffaloes (89) and the Florida State Seminoles (62). Out of the top 20 teams in On3’s transfer portal rankings, Ole Miss and Kiffin are the only ones to land a five-star recruit.
Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart is more than just a recruiter; he could help Lane Kiffin make a run at his first national title
Dart has shown steady and significant improvement in each of his three years as a college football quarterback. Dart didn’t participate as a full-time quarterback in his first year and only threw for 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns before transferring to Ole Miss.
In his first year with the Rebels, Dart threw for just under 3,000 yards and had 20 passing touchdowns along with 11 interceptions. He followed that up with a career year in 2023. His completion rate, total passing yards, yards per pass, touchdowns and touchdown-to-interception ratio were all career-best numbers.
He had 3,364 yards passing and 23 touchdowns on a 65.1% completion rate and 9.4 yards per attempt. He only threw five interceptions throughout the entire season. Dart also had a career-high eight rushing touchdowns in 2023.
Many Ole Miss fans are looking forward to what the Rebels will be able to accomplish with an experienced Dart at the helm. They have high praise for Kiffin’s ability to develop quarterbacks.
Would recommend listening to Kiffin talk about Dart
#2 is the best leader this football team could ask for. Big things ahead https://t.co/1YHeix88UF
— Everything Ole Miss (@EverythingRebs) March 19, 2024
#KiffinDevelopment at it’s Finest!
— Mississippi Kid (@MississippiKi20) March 20, 2024
Coach, you seem to have a knack for developing leadership qualities in all your starting quarterbacks. A very important part of your success.
— polly Gilbert (@pollyGi42978229) March 19, 2024
Dart will have a great opportunity to boost his draft stock and show where he belongs in the conversation about the nation’s top quarterbacks, especially with the return of wide receiver Tre Harris and the introduction of South Carolina Gamecocks transfer Juice Wells.
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