Report: Former USC quarterback Jaxson Dart makes transfer decision

Former USC quarterback Jaxson Dart will reportedly transfer to Ole Miss, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and confirmed by On3’s Gerry Hamilton. Dart entered the portal on Jan. 10.

Dart has not yet announced his commitment, but Thamel reported that “he’s headed there (to Ole Miss) today,” and that his decision has been made, which Hamilton confirmed.

The Draper, Utah, native spent one year in Los Angeles, starting three games for the Trojans. He finished his true freshman season with 1,353 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions.

Dart is the second USC quarterback to transfer, following Kedon Slovis, who left for Pitt. Ranked as the No. 2 overall prospect in On3’s transfer rankings, Dart was down to Ole Miss and Oklahoma.

A four-star recruit, Dart chose the Trojans over offers from Iowa State, UCLA, Yale and others. He was the No. 45 overall prospect in the 2021 class according to On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Dart earned several accolades while playing for Corner Canyon High School in Draper. He was named the 2020 Gatorade Player of the Year, Max Preps National Player of the Year and Sports Illustrated All-America first team. Corner Canyon claimed a 6A title his senior season as Dart broke the Utah state record with 67 passing touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 215 pound quarterback missed time this past season after tearing his meniscus on Sept. 18 against Washington State. Before suffering the injury, he had thrown for 391 yards and four touchdowns against the Cougars, both season highs. He returned against Arizona on Oct. 30 and stayed healthy the remainder of the season.

USC finished the season 4-8, missing out on a bowl game for the third time in the past four seasons. The Trojans fired coach Clay Helton following a Week 2 loss to Stanford. They later hired Oklahoma Sooners coach Lincoln Riley as his replacement at the conclusion of the season.

With Dart and Slovis both gone, Riley finds himself in search of a starting quarterback for the 2022 season. Many believe that Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams, who played under Riley this past season, could be that guy. Williams announced he had entered the transfer portal a week before Dart on Jan. 3.

Jaxson Dart is one of several USC players to enter the transfer portal since Riley was announced as coach. Those joining him include tight end Michael Trigg, receiver Bru McCoy, linebacker Raymond Scott and many others.