‘By far the best it’s been since we’ve been here’: Lane Kiffin is high on a stacked Ole Miss quarterback room
Ole Miss on Thursday finally took its turn at SEC Media Days in Nashville.
But before the Rebels headed for the main ballroom — which has hosted coach and player representatives from all 14 league schools over the last four days — now-fourth year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin stepped aside with local Rebel media to discuss a wide-range of topics, including the much-discussed and hyped quarterback competition back home in Oxford.
Kiffin was short on specifics, but he’s excited to see Jaxson Dart, Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard battle it out in fall camp practices in August. Dart, the incumbent starter, is currently penciled in with the first-team Rebel offense after a strong spring.
“I’d say it’s a really competitive room,” Kiffin said. “It’s in much better shape, which is our goal as a staff for an entire roster, but each position group, to try to make them more competitive and more balanced throughout each year. That room is by far the best it’s been since we’ve been here. We’re excited about camp coming up see these guys fully healthy and competing.”
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Sanders and Howard are transfers from Oklahoma State and LSU, respectively.
Sanders was limited by with a preexisting shoulder injury for the first few weeks of spring practices. However, he came on towards the end, especially in the Grove Bowl. Howard impressed, too, but he has limited real-game snaps.
Dart was steady as they came. Kiffin has also been impressed by his attitude, despite the talent he now finds himself surrounded by in the room.
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“Jaxson’s done an amazing job,” Kiffin said. “He had a great spring from a play and leadership standpoint. Improved. Throwing the ball better than he ever has. I think he’s going to have a great camp.”
Ole Miss also now has Austin Simmons, a four-star one-time 2025 prospect who reclassified to 2023 and enrolled this month.
“(Simmons) had explored (the rare reclassification of two classes) and he had kind of already been on track to do that at another school (Florida). So, they were headed that direction, but he hadn’t reclassified yet. It was still open that he could stay. There were a lot of conversations,” Kiffin said.
“We’re excited he decided to come. Very talented player with tremendous upside. Great baseball player also.”
