Jaxson Dart shares what areas he’s grown most during time at Ole Miss

Jaxson Dart had an up-and-down first season at Ole Miss.

The USC transfer and former top-50 overall recruit helped the Rebels get off to a 7-0 start and top 10 ranking.

However, Ole Miss went 1-5 in its final six games of the 2022 season as the Rebels limped to the finish line.

Dart recently spoke about what he learned last season in his first year at Ole Miss as the Rebels went 8-5.

“I think that how we ended was disappointing. We started off so strong, and I think that honestly we got a little comfortable,” Dart said. “I think that we just let our foot off the gas a little bit and I think that was a big eye opener for myself and the guys on the team that you play in the SEC and you play the best competition week in and week out. There’s never a time when you can take your foot off the gas.”

Dart insists that Ole Miss enters the 2023 season with a different mindset.

One of the lessons the Rebels learned last year is that they have to show up ready to play every week.

“Every team has just as much talent or more talent than you. And every team has great coaches,” Dart said. “So I just didn’t think that we executed the way that we should’ve. I know that all the guys on the team were disappointed, and we really want to make a big leap. We feel like we have the core of our team, a lot of it coming back this next year. … We just have to get back out and start this year off the right way and finish it the right way.”

Individually, Dart finished last season with 2,974 passing yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 614 yards and a score.

One of the reasons the rising junior expects Ole Miss to be better in 2023 is because he is much more comfortable now — both on and off the field — than he was a year ago.

“I just think like my confidence in the system [is why I’m better]. I’ve talked to coach [Lane] Kiffin about this, as well as coach [Charlie] Weis [Jr.]. You kind of look at how Matt [Corral] was from Year 1 to Year 2, and just like his comfortability in the system and how he was able to just operate things. And for me, that’s kind of what I’m striving for,” Dart said. “I’m striving to have a big year like he did. So I think just my knowledge of the game, kind of just being accustomed to this area. This will be Year 2 for me, so just living here and really finding my group and my crowd, so I’m just really comfortable with where I’m at. So I think a lot of that has attributed to my performance.”