Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart was PFF’s highest-graded quarterback in Week 1
Jaxson Dart started Saturday against Mercer — to no one’s surprise.
Including Dart himself.
“I felt like I earned it,” he said afterwards. “It’s what I expected.”
He’s not wrong. Dart was the unquestioned starter in both spring and fall practices, despite the added competition of decorated transfers Spencer Sanders (Oklahoma State) and Walker Howard (LSU).
He didn’t turn the ball over all spring. He had some hiccups in the preseason, but Dart was still able to keep Sanders, in particular, at an arm’s length. Sanders was a four-year starter at Oklahoma State and signed a lucrative NIL deal to come to Ole Miss.
“My focus is to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country,” Dart said. “That’s my mindset and what I want to accomplish this year. Hopefully we put up a championship by the end of it.”
Making the Grade: How did Ole Miss fare in its blowout win over Mercer?
Dart is right on schedule after Week 1.
He was 18 for 23 for 334 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions as Ole Miss whipped Mercer, 73-7 to open the 2023-24 campaign. He completed each of his first 11 passes and had three touchdown passes (all to Louisiana Tech transfer wide receiver Tre Harris) in the first quarter alone.
Dart, for his efforts, earned the highest grade (93.7) of any FBS quarterback from Pro Football Focus. Blake Shapen (Baylor, 93.3), JJ McCarthy (Michigan, 93.0), Drew Allar (Penn State, 92.9) and Jalen Milroe (Alabama, 92.3) made up the rest of the Top 5.
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“I honestly think we’re in a better spot than last year,” Dart said of the Rebels (1-0), who next travel to Tulane.
Dart, a one-time transfer from USC, started 12 of 13 games last season and led the Rebels to an 8-5 record and their third straight preseason performance. But first he had to Best Luke Altmyer to start — in a battle that also extended into the season.
Dart, obviously, came out on top in that race, too. Altmyer is a former four-star in-state recruit. He was signed out of the back yard of the Rebels’ bitter in-state rival, Mississippi State, but he’s now the starting quarterback at Illinois. Altmyer had a memorable 2023-24 debut as well, leading Illinois to a come-from-behind win.
“I’m confident in my role and what’s expected of me,” Dart said. Ole Miss and Tulane kick off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
“I’ll do my job each and every week.”
