Jaxson Dart is 'a whole different quarterback this year' according to Ole Miss wide receivers
A common thread throughout the summer workouts and early stage of fall is Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart has taken big strides in his maturity on and off the field.
Through the eyes of Dart’s teammates that maturity is also positively affecting his effort on the practice field entering year two at Ole Miss. There is yet another quarterback battle brewing with Dart and Spencer Sanders — who is fully healthy after a shoulder injury in the spring — that is also putting the pressure on the junior.
In the first five practices of fall camp Dart has looked sharper than he did during spring camp and the Grove Bowl. That can be attributed to a year older in the Ole Miss system and a year stronger after hitting the weight room this summer.
As for the Ole Miss receivers that are on the other end of those Dart passes they are seeing a completely different quarterback than they did in 2022.
“Dart look like a whole different quarterback this year. I can’t lie,” receiver Jalen Knox said after Monday’s practice. “It’s definitely fun to watch.”
Knox is trying to work his way into a bigger role within the Ole Miss receiving corps and has been targeted a lot by Dart in the first five practices of preseason camp.
A veteran in the wide receivers room this season Jordan Watkins has watched Dart’s progression from his first season at Ole Miss to present day. As the third best receiver for the Rebels last year Watkins caught nearly 50 passes from Dart last fall.
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The difference in what Watkins saw in 13 games last year from his starting quarterback to the first couple weeks in August is more about Dart believing in himself more.
“I think I’ve seen a lot of confidence,” Watkins said. “That’s the biggest thing for me. Being able to go out there and run the offense like a quarterback. That’s the biggest improvement I’ve seen from him. Just being able to go out there and play with confidence.”
Related: Jaxson Dart still holding on to the top spot in Ole Miss QB race
All eyes are on Dart as he enters year two at Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin.
Fair or not there is the comparison being utilized of former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral and his jump from year one to year two under Kiffin. The relationship between the current Carolina Panthers quarterback and Kiffin became stronger during that 2021 season.
For Dart the jump in production similar to Corral is not going to be as great. Dart nearly matched Corral’s 2021 numbers last season. But what is being noticed at practice are looser personalities between Dart and Kiffin.
“I like Jaxson a lot. I think he’s matured a lot, developed a lot, his game is a lot better,” Kiffin said on Monday. “He’s mature, but he was still young, it was his second year of college his first year here. I like Jaxson a lot, and he has really grown into a leader of this team. They vote that leadership group, and he was up there as high as anybody in their opinions, so that says a lot because he’s not real vocal. He won them over by how he invests in them.”
