Jaxson Dart makes strong prediction on Jonathan Mingo's 2023 NFL Draft status

After one season with the USC Trojans, quarterback Jaxson Dart opted to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal and eventually transferred to the Ole Miss Rebels. It hasn’t taken much time at all for Dart to start pumping up his wide receivers. On Thursday, Dart was asked about which Ole Miss players have impressed him on offense. Dart immediately shouted out wide receiver Jonathan Mingo, who is entering his fourth year in the program.

Dart is high on Mingo, and believes that he could be an underrated sleeper when it comes to the 2023 NFL Draft class.

“There’s been a lot of guys,” Dart said when asked about who has impressed him on the Ole Miss offense. “We have a lot of really, really good players. (Jonathan) Mingo has been a big one to me as just like a leader. And he’s a great athlete. I think he’s gonna be a guy coming into this next draft class that’s kind of flying under the radar. He’s going to make a big name for himself.”

Mingo began his collegiate career in 2019, bringing in 12 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown. During the 2020 season, he had 27 receptions for 379 yards and three touchdowns. This past season, Mingo hauled in 22 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns. While Mingo’s 61 receptions for 897 yards and seven touchdowns through three seasons might not jump off the wall, he could be in line for an uptick in volume next season.

Mingo could turn into one of Dart’s favorite targets

Last season’s leading receiver for Ole Miss, Dontario Drummond, is no longer with the program. This past season, he had 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and eight touchdowns. Running back Jerrion Ealy was the Rebels’ second leading receiver with 32 receptions, and he is also not back. Braylon Sanders and Jahcour Pearson finished second and third on last year’s roster in terms of receiving yards, and both are also now gone.

As Dart looks to make his mark on the Ole Miss offense, having early rapport with a receiver like Mingo is valuable. The Rebels are looking to replace a lot of lost production from last year’s team, including at quarterback.

Dart threw for 1,353 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions last year at USC while battling through injuries. Now, he is looking to take over for Matt Corral, who is now in the 2022 NFL Draft.