Lane Kiffin on challenges of evaluating quarterbacks with numerous wide receiver injuries

Lane Kiffin will have a decision to make at quarterback soon, with Luke Altmyer and Jaxson Dart battling it out for the Ole Miss starting role. However, the head coach is having problems evaluating how the two are playing due to a shortage of wide receivers on the roster thanks to injuries.

Kiffin talked about how frustrating looking at a quarterback’s stat sheet can be whenever he does not have the right talent surrounding him. He compared it to last season for Matt Corral, saying you could tell when his best playmakers were available in games.

“You would like to think with experience, you learn things so you take all of that into account,” Kiffin said. “I think, as a younger coach sometimes you get down because of the stat sheet but getting a quarterback out there that’s going to have great passing efficiency without good players around him. Running guys can take off and run but when it comes to the throwing, you better have some good pieces and just look at Matt’s season when he had them when he didn’t. There’s a big difference as good as he was. Those guys are suffering from that.”

Kiffin has brought in a couple of pass-catchers through the transfer portal but when there are injuries throughout the depth chart, it can still be hard to judge quarterbacks. The Rebels head coach has stated he would like to name a starting quarterback as soon as possible, citing team chemistry and leadership as the reason. If Kiffin is going to do so during spring, he’s running out of time. He needs guys to get healthy.

Wide receiver help could be on the way for Lane Kiffin

According to Clint Brewster of 247Sports, Ole Miss is “out in front” for Vanderbilt Commodores transfer wide receiver, Cam Johnson. The No. 14 wide receiver to enter the transfer portal this cycle according to the On3 transfer portal rankings, if the Rebels end up being the selection, Johnson would be the third transfer pass catcher for Kiffin.

Johnson spent four seasons with the Commodores, playing in 37 games. The wide receiver has 1,233 yards and 10 touchdowns on 124 receptions and averaging 9.9 yards per catch. He would bring another dynamic to the Ole Miss offense looking to surround whoever their starting quarterback might be with SEC-proven talent.

Dontario Drummond was the only Ole Miss wide receiver to have over 1,000 yards last season but he is no longer with the program. Adding somebody such as Johnson could translate quickly for the Rebels, already putting up decent numbers inside of the conference.