‘Jaxson’s a wonderful person’: Lane Kiffin had time Monday for some praise of his star QB
Kentucky has played Georgia tougher than most everyone else over the last couple of years.
Actually, two of the last three games between the teams have been decided by 10 points or less. The Wildcats came within a point of the Bulldogs at home just earlier this month.
Put simply: Fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin has No. 6 Ole Miss on red alert this week. Big Blue rolls into Oxford Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
“They have really good length on defense,” Kiffin said to lead off his weekly press conference on Monday. “It’s happened to us — if you don’t have size and length on defense you struggle over the last few years with Georgia or Alabama.”
Kentucky is buoyed offensively by lead pass rusher JJ Weaver. Weaver has a team-high 2.0 sacks and three quarterback hurries. The Wildcats are 2-2, including a pair of SEC losses to South Carolina (31-6) and Georgia (13-12).
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Ole Miss, meanwhile, is 4-0 after sweeping four non-conference games to open its title chase of a 2024-25 campaign.
The Rebels have allowed just one touchdown all season and lead the nation in both scoring offense and scoring defense.
Third-year starter and Heisman Trophy candidate Jaxson Dart is off to the best statistical start of any SEC quarterback since Tim Couch in 1998. He leads the nation in five separate categories and is PFF’s current top-graded QB (93.7) in the nation.
“Jaxson’s a wonderful person,” Kiffin said. “He treats people really well. Spends a lot of time with his teammates (and) with kids around here, including my son and nephew. Just a really great family person.
“On the field there’s a trust level there. We spend a lot of time with him and then let him play on Saturdays. (The relationship) started one way. It pays off when you have relationships and the quarterbacks trust you, too.”
Kiffin, wide receiver Juice Wells and cornerback Trey Amos all took time to open Kentucky week on Monday. Here’s everything they had to say.
