Jaxson Dart: 'I definitely need to start sliding'

During Ole Miss‘ win over Georgia Tech this weekend, quarterback Jaxson Dart showed off his running ability. He led the team in rushing, with more yards, carries, and rushing touchdowns than anyone else on the team.

Amid that impressive effort, Dart did have a major takeaway. He needs to start sliding and avoiding contact more.

“No, I definitely need to start doing that,” Jaxson Dart said. “My mom tells me every single day on the walk, she actually told me, ‘You need to remember to slide today.’ I guess I just forgot, but I’ll remember.”

In the win over Georgia Tech, Dart ran for 14 carries, gaining 136 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. He also threw for 251 yards and another touchdown in what was a monster performance for the signal caller.

A big challenge for Ole Miss is that, right now, it seems like the team needs Jaxson Dart to be a threat in the running game going forward. Star running back Quinshon Judkins has been banged up and he played against Georgia Tech despite being listed as doubtful. Still, he only carried the ball for 37 yards. So, finding another place to get production on the ground is huge.

In fact, with 213 rushing yards this season, Jaxson Dart leads Ole Miss in rushing to this point in the season. That’s a running game that has head coach Lane Kiffin concerned going forward.

“I’m highly concerned. That’s very unusual for us. Not just here. I mean anywhere, really. I don’t remember ever having the inability to run the ball. At all,” Kiffin said.

“[Tulane] did a great job but it obviously had a lot to do with us, and that’s everybody. That’s perimeter blocking, that’s lineman execution, running back footwork. It’s everything. … It takes everybody to have a good running game. So, we definitely look to improve there. That’s a major issue and one I don’t think anyone would have guessed.”

Jaxson Dart is excited to play Alabama

This week, Ole Miss will travel to Tuscaloosa for a test against Alabama. That’s a test that Jaxson Dart and the entire team are excited for.

“This is a game that I feel like our whole team has been looking forward to. Especially with how things ended last game, last time we played them, toward the end of the game,” Dart said.

“Obviously, they’re Bama. So, you know what to expect from them. I think all of us as kids have grown up and seen them at the top. So, we’re excited for the challenge.”