Lane Kiffin evaluates how Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart has grown throughout 2024 season

It’s been an up-and-down season for Ole Miss in 2024. And with two losses before November, it would’ve been easy for a Rebels season with so much promise to fall off the rails.

But quarterback Jaxson Dart wouldn’t let it happen. From his leadership off the field to his play on it, head coach Lane Kiffin, in a brief ESPN interview, expounded on the growth and improvement of his quarterback in 2024 ahead of a massive showdown with Georgia.

“I think Jaxson’s done a great job in leadership, done a great job handling adversity,” Kiffin said. “We had the two games where we were ahead the whole game and screwed up at the end and he really kept these guys around and just kept working.”

And Dart, along with leading the FBS in passing yards with 3210, also completes an SEC-leading 71.7% of his passes and also leads the conference with 21 passing touchdowns. He also has a trio of scores on the ground for Ole Miss.

Kiffin has been impressed at how the quarterback has kept his level of play up despite injuries around him, such as to leading receiver Tre Harris.

“And played through some players being hurt around him on offense,” Kiffin said. “Just like Tre Harris being out the last two and a half games and he goes and sets the school record for passing last week at Arkansas. So he’s done a great job but he’s a wonderful kid and he’s just awesome to have around.” 

Dart surpassed Archie Manning for a school record last Saturday

Dart broke records during Ole Miss‘ 63-31 win over Arkansas in Week 10 — most notably passing Rebels legend Archie Manning for the all-time leader in passing yards in program history.

Dart also became the program’s all-time winningest quarterback (25 wins) after downing the Razorbacks. Kiffin provided his inital reaction to Dart’s newest pair of accolades during his postgame press conference.

“I thought he was great,” Kiffin said of Dart’s performance against the Razorbacks. “I said he played well last week. I mean, the guy takes criticism and I think he plays very well. He’s the all-time winningest quarterback here and has most total yards in the history of the school, so he must be doing something right even before today.

“I’m just glad that hopefully everybody sees it now. And he’s worked really hard to get there. It’s not just talent alone. The guy works as hard as anybody all week long, always up in the office, always trying to find new things and work with the new different receivers. Jordan [Watkins] used to be a slot and then with Tre out we’ve moved him outside, and they did a great job working together throughout the weeks. And this week in order to do this.”