Lane Kiffin previews Ole Miss quarterback competition during spring practice

The quarterback competition at Ole Miss should be one of the most hotly-contested position battles of the 2023 college football offseason. With the addition of two transfers and the return of starter Jaxson Dart, Lane Kiffin and his Rebels squad might be spoiled for choice about who will be taking snaps on Week 1.

Dart will duke it out with LSU transfer Walker Howard, who redshirted in 2022, and Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders, who was a four-year starter for the Cowboys. Right now, Kiffin sees things as being pretty wide open. More than anything, he’s happy with the improved quality and depth Ole Miss now has at the quarterback position.

“Usually comes down to — timing, accuracy and decision makings are three things that, forever, we’ve kind of looked at. But, we’ve got a long time. Spring and fall, to figure it out, let guys play. And the goal is to improve depth of every room that you have. And that’s when you become a really good team. I think that if there’s some rating of quality of that room, that room’s improved from where it was a year ago. Basically to have two returning starting quarterbacks and a very high-profile recruit in there that redshirted last year, is really good,” Kiffin said.

Kiffin didn’t have much to offer by way of specifics about who is doing well, who has taken to the playbook and who is commanding the locker room the way a quarterback needs too. But he did have some more general notes about Dart and Sanders.

NCAA rule changes allowed coaching staffs and players to workout a little bit with a football during the winter period. Previously, using a football wouldn’t have been allowed. As such, Kiffin and Co. got a chance to work some with Dart.

Kiffin, on a trip there recently, ran into Dart’s dad, who offered good reports of recovery and strength after the season and winter.

“He’s gotten much stronger and has looked really good and much improved. So that’s exciting,” Kiffin said.

As for Sanders, he dealt with an injury at the end of the 2022 season and has been limited, to date, for Ole Miss. Getting him going more in the coming weeks and months will be key to opening up the quarterback competition as things move along.

“Spencer was a little limited in throwing, initially, with the previous injury. But he was out there today taking reps. So excited for all three guys. Much different than where we were a year ago, in my opinion, as far as depth and quality in the room,” Kiffin said.