LISTEN: Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart a Top 5 SEC QB in 2023? David Eckert thinks so.
Clarion-Ledger Ole Miss beat reporter David Eckert has been to every Ole Miss football preseason practice to this point.
What are his biggest takeaways as the Rebels inch closer and closer to their season opener against Mercer September 2?
Well, for one, he’s a believer in Jaxson Dart, the Rebels’ incumbent starter at quarterback. Dart continues to hold off off-season transfer additions Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU).
Dart as a first-year starter last season completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,974 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also rushed for 614 yards and another score. Sanders only has one year of eligibility remaining and is one of the most experienced signal-callers returning in all of college football. He started over 40 games for Oklahoma State. Howard is a one-time four-star and Top 50 prospect.
“I think Jaxson Dart is really good,” Eckert said. “I think he’s going to be a Top 5 SEC quarterback relatively comfortably.”
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But Eckert’s observations don’t end there.
Eckert on Wednesday joined the Ole Miss Spirit’s Talk of Champions podcast.
“(Ole Miss true freshman wide receiver and former four-star recruit) Ayden Williams is going to be really good,” Eckert continued. Eckert is entering his first full season covering the Rebels for the Clarion-Ledger.
“But we haven’t seen a whole lot of pads, so, really, the most I’ve learned was at the scrimmage (on Saturday). The defense dominated that scrimmage in a way that I wasn’t expecting. Because during the spring, and really while they don’t have pads on and they’re not rushing the quarterback, it has seemed like the offense has been tearing them to shreds.
“(Saturday) was the first time the defense kind of won the day that I saw. I think that’s really encouraging.”
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