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Jaxson Dart gifted his mom arguably the Combine’s best throwing session on her birthday

Ben Garrettby:Ben Garrett•about 16 hours•

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Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart (Photo credit: USA Today Images)

Jaxson Dart already faced plenty of pressure to perform last week at the NFL Scouting Combine. 

Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders opted not to throw in Indianapolis, swinging the door of opportunity wide open for Dart to continue building momentum for the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Dart didn’t disappoint. Actually, he all but cemented his place as QB3. 

USA Today ranked Dart as the second-best quarterback at the Combine. The Athletic reported two teams feel ‘strongly’ about Dart as a ‘top-half’ selection in the first round. Ole Miss last had a first-round quarterback back in 2004, when Eli Manning was selected No. 1 overall.

“This has been a dream of mine forever,” Dart told NFL Network.

Dart shined in his throwing session in front of representatives for all 32 NFL teams. He’s trending more and more as a top-two-round lock. But he also had some personal motivation for his standout performance. 

Dart threw on his mom’s birthday. 

Watching the Combine with her on her special day became somewhat of a family tradition growing up. Now Dart was off the couch and in the spotlight.

“This is a special moment for all of us,” Dart said. “Felt like I had some pressure out there. Had to perform for mom on her birthday.”

Dart couldn’t have given her a much better present. 

Dart set records over his three-year Ole Miss career and has been climbing draft boards ever since the Gator Bowl. He completed 27 of 35 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns in a 56-20 Rebel win over Duke. A few of his throws in particular, including a third-quarter completion to Jordan Watkins on a rollout to his left, were praised for their next-level nature. Watkins ran a Top 10 40-yard dash among receivers at the Combine.

Dart made all kinds of history in the process. He became one of just four players in SEC history with 12,000 total career yards. Dart broke the single-season Ole Miss passing and total offense records, as well as his own school records for single-bowl passing yards and total offense.

He’s ranked as the draft’s No. 3 quarterback by long-time draft analyst Mel Kiper of ESPN. Todd McShay, formerly of ESPN, has heard first-round rumblings.

“It’s one thing to see him on film. But to see Jaxson’s Dart lower body (at the NFL Combine), he’s got that thick, strong lower body that makes some of these throws really effortless,” NFL network analyst and 12-year NFL veteran quarterback Kurt Warner said. 

“He’s able to get his leg into it and lay it out there. Ball’s coming out really, really well. I know a lot of people wonder about that system, how that helps him, but he’s thrown the ball well.”

One NFL executive told The Athletic’s Mike Sando Dart could be an option for the New York Jets with the No. 7 pick. 

ESPN’s Jordan Reid recently mocked Dart to the Las Vegas Raiders in the second round.

“You’re going to get a leader,” Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos said. Amos and Dart were a few of the biggest Rebel winners from the Combine. The Rebels sent a program-record 11 to Indianapolis. 

Amos, continued: “I feel like he can change the whole culture in a team and just produce. That’s what he’s been doing. I feel like he can continue that with an NFL team.”

Dart formerly met with the Pittsburgh Steelers, among others, at the Combine. Aiding his climb has been the continual growth he displayed over three years under now-sixth-year Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. 

Dart again took some time to praise Kiffin for his development. The draft is April 24-26 at legendary Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

“Coach Kiffin’s had a huge impact to my career,” Dart said. “Just starting at Ole Miss you don’t really know what to expect as a quarterback and your head coach’s relationship. But every year got stronger, the bond we made. He still can’t beat me in a game of Pickleball; he knows that. But he was great. Really appreciate him and all the time we had.”

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