Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin discussed starting quarterback Jaxson Dart during a spring news conference on Tuesday.
Dart, who transferred from the USC Trojans, has started for the Ole Miss Rebels since 2022. Dart had the opportunity to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, but he chose 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.
Dart’s leadership efforts have benefited Kiffin and the Rebels. Ole Miss is now ranked third in On3’s team transfer portal rankings, with an index score of 69. On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index is described on its website:
“On3’s Team Transfer Portal Index uses the On3 (P)erformance score to measure a team’s performance during the transfer process, comparing it to its roster rather than to other schools. According to On3’s website, this proprietary algorithm evaluates whether a school’s total team talent increased, remained constant, or decreased during the transfer window.
Only four teams in the entire country have a score higher than 40. Louisville Cardinals (91), Colorado Buffaloes (89), and Florida State Seminoles (62). Ole Miss and Kiffin are the only two programs in the top 20 of On3’s transfer portal rankings to have signed 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.
