Plenty of position battles are taking place around the country, but there may not be another one as intriguing as the one taking place in Oxford, Mississippi. The Quarterback battle going on right now at Ole Miss is one of epic proportions. Several players have the opportunity to come out on top. The only question that remains is, who does Lane Kiffin trust the most? Let’s take a deep dive into who will be the starting quarterback for Ole Miss in 2023.
The Contestants:
Jaxson Dart – Junior
(Photo by Joshua McCoy/Ole Miss Athletics)
Our first competitor for the starting job is Junior QB Jaxson Dart. Dart has plenty of advantages in the battle for QB1. For starters, he was the shot-caller last year, and he led Ole Miss to an 8-5 record. He already has a firm grasp of the playbook, as well as the locker room. Heading into 2023, he’ll have plenty of time to refine his game, and really take control of the offense.
Dart threw for over 2,900 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2022. Not exactly elite numbers, but it could be much worse. He isn’t as athletic as Spencer Sanders, and his ceiling isn’t as high as Walker Howard‘s, but he is a reliable option for the Rebels to lean on in 2023, even if it is as a backup.
Pros:
Returning Starter, Has Experience With Playbook, Relatively Consistent
Cons:
Ceiling Not as High, Only One Full Year of Experience
Spencer Sanders – Redshirt Senior
Spencer Sanders to Ole Miss was one of the weirdest decisions of the first 2023 transfer window. Many believed that he would be heading to Auburn, as they have a gaping hole at the QB position. However, he ended up deciding to go to Ole Miss to participate in a quarterback competition, even though he only has one year of eligibility remaining. Regardless, he has enough talent to win the starting job, but he has a lot to overcome.
Sanders is the most athletic player of the bunch, able to extend plays with his legs, and he has the speed to make you pay if you leave him space. He has four years of starting experience under his belt, which is an extremely valuable asset in today’s college football landscape. However, this also means that he only has one year of eligibility remaining.
Despite being a great runner, Sanders isn’t the most elite passer. He threw for 2,642 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2022. He missed two games due to injury. Sanders has yet to throw for 3,000 yards in his career, but that could very well change with a healthy year in Oxford in a Lane Kiffin offense. If Sanders wins the job, I would expect him to have the best season of his career before departing for the NFL Draft.
Pros:
Great Athlete that Can Extend Plays, Lots of Experience, Good Leader
Cons:
Only One Year Remaining, Turnover Prone, Inconsistent “Boom or Bust” Type of Player
Walker Howard – Redshirt Freshman
The last contestant for the job is former LSU Quarterback Walker Howard. Coming in as a former top 50 player nationally (#5 QB), Howard likely has the highest ceiling of all the competitors. However, He is only a redshirt freshman, and lacks any meaningful experience whatsoever. For this reason, I don’t think that he will truly contend for the job, at least not yet. Still, Ole Miss fans should be excited about the future of the program, as Howard has all the potential to be one of the best QBs in the country in the future.
Pros:
Highest Ceiling, Very Young, Will give the Rebels Multiple Seasons
Cons:
Zero Meaningful Experience, New to the System
Prediction for Who Will Win the Ole Miss Quarterback Battle
The Ole Miss Quarterback room is absolutely stacked for 2023. There are a plethora of talented guys there, and honestly, all three players listed in this article could start somewhere else. However, only one can be crowned king in Oxford. There are pros and cons to each player, and it’s going to be tough to name a starter. In my opinion, the battle comes down between Jaxson Dart and Spencer Sanders.
Lane Kiffin loves to gamble, and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing if you start Spencer Sanders. He has the potential to take over a game for you, but he also has been known to make critical mistakes at costly times. He’s improved over the years, but it’s still a bit of a risky option. Compile that with the fact that this is his final year in college, and I begin to question whether he will be the starter for Ole Miss in 2023.
Jaxson Dart on the other hand provides you with a much more consistent approach. However, I’m not sure if he has the ability to put the team on his back and go win a game on his own. He already knows the playbook, and can now focus on improving his accuracy and decision making over the off-season. It’s a close call, and I think it will ultimately depend on what the rest of the roster looks like for Ole Miss. As of right now, I would predict Jaxson Dart to retain the starting job in 2023.
My Prediction: Jaxson Dart
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