Lane Kiffin details what he hopes Austin Simmons learns from Jaxson Dart

As Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels close the book on their time with quarterback Jaxson Dart, Austin Simmons is entering the fray in Oxford.

Dart had an incredible tenure with the Rebels, and Kiffin is hoping Simmons picked up on a thing or two from the star quarterback moving forward. Following Ole Miss’ 32-point victory in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on Jan. 2, Kiffin took some time to wax poetic about Dart, and turn the page to his likely starter in 2025 in Simmons.

“When I said this team was like a family, it really is, because of the way that they just played for each other,” Kiffin stated, following Ole Miss’ bowl victory. “Again, you’re playing the second half of a blowout, and guys are going back into the game. I’m not going to say which one specifically, but guys that we were told actually weren’t team type of guys at their previous places. To see that, it’s such a family. The players here helped change the ones coming in.

“Then, I look at like, the family in the quarterback room, and when you say that about Austin, he’s had this like, big brother, show him everything to do and how to do every single thing right. Except for make his own plays up at the end. But that’s so valuable. It’s one thing to learn about how a guy works, but how he prepares, how he works, how he treats people, how he wins his team over. So, Austin — that’s a really awesome thing that Austin got to experience.”

All told, Simmons hasn’t seen much playing opportunities during his time in Oxford, but has impressed in a limited capacity, throwing for 282 yards on 19-of-32 passing in 2024. Dart left some big shoes to fill, but Simmons seems like he’s up for the challenge of being Kiffin’s next quarterback with the Rebels.

Barring Lane Kiffin jumping into the Spring transfer portal for another QB, Austin Simmons appears to be the guy moving forward in Oxford. He’ll be hoping for all the success Jaxson Dart accumulated and then some, and Ole Miss will have their eyes set on the College Football Playoff moving forward. We’ll see if their quarterback can bring them there.