Ole Miss’ Dart a semifinalist for the nation’s most prestigious national quarterback award

Ole Miss junior quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named a semifinalist for the 2023 Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, as announced by the award’s foundation on Tuesday.

Dart is one of 20 semifinalists, and one of five from the SEC. The others are Jalen Milroe (Alabama), Jayden Daniels (LSU), Brady Cook (Missouri) and Carson Beck (Georgia). 

The Davey O’Brien Award, presented annually, is the most prestigious national quarterback award.

“We thought he was a really good player last year,” legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban said of Dart earlier this year. “I think he’s playing extremely well this year. He’s throwing the ball well (and) he’s always a threat as a runner. 

“This guy’s tough and a great competitor.”

This is but the latest honor for Dart. 

He’s also on watch lists for the Maxwell and Manning awards. 

Dart’s No. 13-ranked Rebels are 8-2 (5-2 SEC) on the season following a loss to top-ranked Georgia over the weekend. Dart was injured in the game and could be limited Saturday against ULM. Ole Miss will close out the regular season with two games in five days, culminating in the annual Egg Bowl rivalry showdown at Mississippi State on Thanksgiving night.

Dart has started every game at quarterback for Ole Miss this season. However, he could give way this week to one or both of Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard. Sanders and Howard are off-season transfer additions from Oklahoma State and LSU, respectively. Sanders was a four-year starter at Oklahoma State.

“He was able to return (to the game) after getting checked out,” fourth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin said after the 52-17 loss to the Bulldogs.

Dart leads an Ole Miss offense ranked third in the SEC in both scoring (36.6 points per game) and total offense (466.2 yards per game). 

He’s completed 170 of his 261 (65.1 percent) passes on the season for 2,579 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. 

Dart is in his second Ole Miss season after a transfer from USC. He’s second in the SEC among quarterbacks in yards per carry (3.7). He’s third in touchdowns (seven) and fourth in yards per game (35.4).

“I just thought his high school film, extremely competitive and could make so many plays,” Kiffin said of Dart during last week’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “Then start as a freshman at USC says a lot. Very close relationship with Clay Helton, so talked to Clay through that process about him. Just really enjoyed his visit here. 

“Meeting him and how serious he was about football and thought he’d do a great job here.”

RELATED: Daytime Fireworks: Bounce-back time for Ole Miss football against ULM

Dart is fourth in the SEC and No. 16 nationally in total offense per game (293.3 yards). 

He’s fourth in the SEC in points per game responsible for (14.0) and sits in the Top 15 in yards per attempt at (9.9, No. 5), yards per completion (15.2, No. 8) and passing efficiency (164.5, No. 12).

Dart currently ranks sixth all-time at Ole Miss in total offense (6,521). He’s seventh in career 300-yard passing games (5), eighth in passing yards (5,553), eighth in passing touchdowns (36) and ninth in touchdowns responsible for (44). Dart is one of just 21 quarterbacks in the FBS, and one of four in the SEC, with at least 4,000 career passing yards and 1,000 career rushing yards. 

He’s one of 17 with at least 6,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards. Dart needs 94 more passing yards to become the 15th active FBS quarterback with 7,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards.

Next for the award is a weighted vote from both fans and the Davey O’Brien National Selection Committee to decide three finalists. The award’s winner will be announced at the 47th Annual Davey O’Brien Awards Dinner at the Fort Worth (Texas) Club in February.

The Davey O’Brien Foundation was created in 1977, while the National Quarterback Award was first issued in 1981. O’Brien was a star quarterback for TCU in 1938 when he became the first player in history to win the Heisman Trophy, Maxwell Award and Walter Camp Award in the same year. 

He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.