Jaxson Dart discusses relationship with Luke Altmyer, Ole Miss quarterback competition
Former USC Trojans quarterback Jaxson Dart is now with the Ole Miss Rebels, competing for the starting quarterback job. Dart’s top competition for the starting job is Luke Altmyer. Both Dart and Altmyer are entering their second collegiate seasons, and both are looking to seize the starting job and help fill the void left by former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral.
Even with the competition, Dart and Altmyer have a good relationship. Altmyer was the first person to come up to Dart when he arrived at Ole Miss, and the two have grown to become good friends in recent weeks.
“Yeah Luke’s a great kid,” Dart said of Altmyer. “I remember like one of my first days coming in here, we threw in the indoor facility with some of the receivers. He was the first kid to come shake my hand. So he’s a great kid, and I can tell that he’s raised really well. We’re good friends.”
The competition with Altmyer is nothing new for Dart
Dart threw for 1,353 yards last season with USC, also tossing nine touchdowns and five interceptions while rushing for two more scores. Kedon Slovis spent most of last year as USC’s starter, while freshman Miller Moss saw some time as well. After walking into a situation where the starting job wasn’t a guarantee last year, he is prepared to do the same this year at Ole miss.
Altmyer threw just 37 passes this past season. 28 of them came in the Sugar Bowl against Baylor. In that game, Altmyer threw for 174 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, completing 15 of his 28 pass attempts. He was also sacked seven times.
But despite not having a starting job guaranteed, Dart embraces the competition at Ole Miss with Altmyer. The two will now have to earn the starting job, and Dart believes that the competition will bring the best out of both young quarterbacks.
“For me, I came into USC in this similar position,” Dart said of the Ole Miss quarterback competition. “I committed with another kid who’s in my class. So for me, it’s kind of similar. I’m in the same position as I was when I first went to USC. We obviously have the same goals in mind, and I think it’s just competition. It breeds the best out of both of us. It’s going to push us and help us become better players ultimately.”
Ole Miss opens the regular season on Saturday, September 3 at home against Troy.