Skip to main content

LOOK: Ole Miss looked part of title contender in dominant season-opening win over Furman

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett08/31/24

SpiritBen

No. 6 Ole Miss looked the part of a contender in scoring the most points of the Lane Kiffin era in a 76-0, season-opening blanking of Furman. 

Ole Miss had 773 yards of total offense, including 529 passing. Third-year starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate Jaxson Dart only played the first half and was 22 for 27 for 418 yards and six total touchdowns. He had five scores through the air.

Biletnikoff Award watchlist member Tre Harris hauled in eight of his 10 targets for 179 yards and two touchdowns. South Carolina transfer wide receiver Juice Wells had two catches for 70 yards, most of which came on a 61-yard scoring connection with Dart. 

Wells was the portal’s No. 3 wide receiver. He had surgery on his foot before the 2023 season. Wells caught just three passes for 37 yards and re-aggravated the injury on a touchdown reception against Georgia. He didn’t see the field the remainder of the year.

However, Wells was one of the top receivers in the SEC in 2022, finishing with 68 catches for 928 yards.

Second-year quarterback Austin Simmons took over for Dart and not Walker Howard. The promising left was 7 for 16 for 111 yards and a 35-yard touchdown toss to fellow true sophomore Cayden Lee.

Tight ends Caden Prieskorn and Dae’quan Wright, as well as hybrid defensive tackle/goal-line back JJ Pegues all scored, too. Pegues is this year’s Chucky Mullins Award winner. 

Photos by Ole Miss Athletics.

Ole Miss honored Monte Kiffin with a helmet decal

Jaxson Dart

Walter Nolen

Matt Jones

Matt Jones

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin and Matt Jones

Austin Simmons

Cayden Lee

Jaxson Dart

Tre Harris

Jaxson Dart and Tre Harris

Trey Amos

Henry Parrish, Jr.

Jamarious Brown

Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin

Caden Prieskorn

Dae’quan Wright

JJ Pegues

Juice Wells

Juice Wells

Walker Howard and Diego Pounds

Tre Harris

Henry Parrish, Jr.

Ole Miss defensive coordinator Pete Golding

Diego Pounds

TJ Dottery had the helmet communicator for the Rebel defense

You may also like