Jaxson Dart, the Ezoic Ole Miss Rebels quarterback, revealed on social media that he will return to Ole Miss for the 2024 season.
Dart is only a junior this year, but he was projected to be a late second-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by NFL Draft Buzz. Dart told the media that he was still unsure about his future in November. In an article from the Clarion Ledger, Dart said that he would wait to make the decision.
“I haven’t really decided yet,” Dart said. “I think (Lane Kiffin) kind of said that to kind of put positive vibes out there.
“Got a lot of ball left to play. Once everything’s over, I’ll make that decision.”
Dart started his collegiate career with the USC Trojans in 2021, and became the starter at Ole Miss after transferring ahead of the 2022 season. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin has utilized Dart to the best of his abilities by opening up his rushing game in his time with the Rebels.
Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart continues to improve every season
Dart capped off his best season yet with a win in the Peach Bowl against the Penn State Nittany Lions. Penn State had one of the best defenses in college football, and the Rebels completely shattered the majority of their strong year-long statistics. Coming into the game, Penn State allowed:
- 223 yards per game (first)
- 11.4 points per game (third)
- 154 yards passing per game (third)
- 3.9 yards per play (first)
Dart and the Rebels blew these numbers out of the water by putting up 38 points on 540 total yards (394 passing) with 6.1 yards per play. While Penn State’s defensive coordinator Manny Diaz accepted a job with the Duke Blue Devils, the discrepancy in numbers speaks to the offensive efficiency of Dart and the Rebels.
Dart’s yards, yards per play, passer rating, completions and completion percentage saw improvement in every season. Dart had just 43 yards on 22 carries his freshman year. Under Kiffin for two years, Dart has 1,0005 yards rushing along with nine touchdowns.
Dart passed for 3,364 yards this season, which was the first time he eclipsed the 3,000 yard mark. His 23 to five touchdown to interception ratio is the best of his career. The only other time he threw five interceptions in a season was his rookie season in which he had just 189 pass attempts, compared to the average of 360 in the last two years.
Ole Miss Rebels QB Jaxson Dart’s return could contribute to a preseason top-five ranking
The Ole Miss Rebels and head coach Lane Kiffin are currently ranked No. 2 in transfer portal team rankings by 247 Sports, only behind Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes. The Rebels finished the season just outside the top 10, and their statement victory against Penn State should be enough to propel them into the top 10.
When you add the fact that they are returning their star QB to Kiffin’s masterful portal work, it is hard to ignore Ole Miss heading into the 2024 season. Outside of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma Sooners, every other game on the Rebels’ schedule is extremely winnable.
They will also have to take on the Kentucky Wildcats, the LSU Tigers and the Florida Gators. Fans are excited about the return of Dart, and they are hopeful for the 2024 season.
