Lane Kiffin 'very excited' about quarterback room

Last year, Ole Miss’ quarterback room was largely two deep after Luke Altmyer and USC transfer Jaxson Dart competed for the starting job. But now, Altmyer is at Illinois — and Lane Kiffin reloaded in a big way.

Ole Miss brought in two quarterbacks from the transfer portal even with Dart back for at least one more season. Spencer Sanders now joins the show after serving as the starter at Oklahoma State the last few seasons, and Walker Howard transferred in from LSU following a year as the third-string quarterback behind Garrett Nussmeier and Jayden Daniels.

That means Kiffin has strength in numbers at the position, both short-term and long-term. That’s why he thinks the Rebels are in a good spot at the position going forward.

“I’m very excited about the quarterback room,” Kiffin said. “I was very concerned about it, from just pure numbers. … My job is to put together the best roster every year. We had a chance to bring these two guys in. I think Jaxson did a lot of great things last year. I know Jaxson, if you think about when he initially played vs. the middle and end, dramatically improved for a young quarterback. We’re very excited about him continuing that.

“We were able to have two guys — one more of a veteran — and if you look at the NFL model, a veteran, very good quarterback, and then a really young one, more of a draft pick. The quarterback room is dramatically in a much better position than it was a year ago, and that’s really our goal with our whole roster and every position every year is continue to improve it. We talked about what goes out vs. what comes in, and trying to win that battle. That’ll be very exciting to see those guys develop and also work with the young one, too.”

Kiffin has quite a decision looming with spring ball fast approaching. Dart beat out Altmyer for the starting job last year and put up solid numbers, throwing for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns while also rushing for 614 yards and a touchdown. But by bringing in Sanders, there’s also more experience in the room considering he threw for more than 9,500 yards and 67 touchdowns in his four years with Oklahoma State. The 2023 season will be Sanders’ last year of eligibility, adding to the intrigue regarding who’ll be Ole Miss’ starter.

Even beyond 2023, Howard could be the quarterback of the future if Dart decides to declare for the NFL Draft. He arrived at LSU last season as a four-star recruit and the No. 6-ranked quarterback prospect from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.