Jaxson Dart focusing on improving as Ole Miss continues to mull over its quarterback decision

Like sands in the hourglass, so are the days of Luke Altmyer and Jaxson Dart who are both still waiting to see which will be the next starting quarterback at Ole Miss.

Fall camp wrapped up over the weekend with the final scrimmage which Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin dubbed a “mock game.” Coming out of it and into the first game week of the regular season there might have been expectation of a decision in the months-long quarterback competition.

Kiffin quickly doused those expectations by starting off his first Monday press conference of the regular season by stating there is not a decision and may not be one until Saturday.

All throughout fall camp that has been the company line by Kiffin, coordinators and players. Both Dart and Altmyer are continuing to be neck and neck and neither is emerging a front runner.

“Every coach has their different approach to how they handle these quarterback battles,” Dart said on Monday. “Really, my mindset going forward is just trying to prepare myself like I am going to be the starter. I know Luke’s doing the same thing. At the end of the day we just want to win. We’re going to do everything in our power to do that.”

While Dart is awaiting Kiffin’s decision he took the fall to continue increasing his comfort level in a new system and setting.

The spring was up and down for Dart who showed signs of growing pains in his first few weeks at Ole Miss. Dart’s performance in the Grove Bowl back in April reinforced it may take some time for him to get a firm grasp on the playbook.

Over the last month that has been Dart’s mission, to get fully immersed in the offense.

“I definitely feel like there’s been a lot of growth,” Dart said. “Especially, you know, coming from the spring and just having extra time in the offense and being able to improve on the little things. I think my biggest thing has been able to just get a better understanding of the offense and get a better rhythm of all the guys.”

Beyond understanding the playbook in the film room Dart is also working to fix his game on the field

One way to describe Dart’s game is that of a gunslinger mentality and one that might take the big chance down field. Looking to make the big play is not a negative in a quarterback but an attribute that requires balance.

Dart has shown flashes of making the big play down field but also put the ball in potentially harms way at times. Decision-making improvement has been high on his to-do list this camp.

“I think decision-making, for me,” Dart said. “I was a little hesitant at times when I first got here. Now it’s more me being able to be confident each and every play to make the right decision and let things play out that way.”

In his lone season at Southern California Dart experienced a little bit of the same things he is facing at Ole Miss.

Due to injuries and other factors there was a quarterback competition at USC and Dart was squarely in the middle of it.

When Dart made the move to Ole Miss back in the winter he went from one battle to another one with Altmyer. One that has yet to be resolved with less than five days before the season opener.

A timeline has not even been considered by Kiffin and quarterbacks coach Charlie Weis, Jr.

Having the experience of last year to fall back on has helped calm Dart and navigate the process he and Altmyer are both going through.

“It’s helped me tremendously, especially me having to go through it during the season,” Dart said. “That’s an experience, for sure. Definitely just me being able to continue to stay level headed. Trying to just control the things that I can control. Don’t get too hyped, don’t get too low and just try to steadily improve myself.”

Watch Dart’s full post-practice interview below.