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The Austin Simmons era is officially underway at Ole Miss

11by:Jake Thompson•about 10 hours•

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Austin Simmons
Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons at the first day of Spring practice. Mandatory credit: Billy Embody.

Tuesday saw Ole Miss open up its 2025 edition of Spring camp and there was a major changing of the guard feel to the morning within the Manning Center and out on the practice fields.

At the forefront of it is Austin Simmons, the successor to Jaxson Dart as the Rebels starting quarterback. There was a strange feeling not seeing Dart running the offense but now it is Simmons’ time.

After his first official outing as the leader of the Ole Miss offense, and one of the overall team leaders, Simmons stood behind the podium to handle his first official media obligation.

When the clock struck zero at the Gator Bowl Dart handed the keys to Simmons. This offseason has been about the latter learning to how evolve as one of the leaders.

“I would definitely say really increasing my verbal leadership,” Simmons said. “I’ve never been really, like, the verbal-type leader, and I’m really trying to progress in that and become better in that field. Also, becoming a better situational football player. Taking things very slow, making sure I know what’s really going on in the game. Really deciphering what I have to do with each type drive. Just want to have that kind of feel.”

This year brings a lot newness with nearly 82 percent of last year’s starters no long on the team. There are returners but not with a lot of game experience.

Count Simmons as one of those. While he did lead what could be argued one of the most important drives of the season, he has not fully gotten his Ole Miss career underway. That started on Tuesday.

“I love everything about this team. We’re still getting to learn each other. Still building chemistry around each other. Right now we’re just in that building phase, but really be that great team while we’re preparing for fall.”

Ole Miss is going to have a nearly entirely new wide receivers room for Simmons.

Only Cayden Lee is back with a handful of transfers and true freshman leading the Rebels passing game.

Tuesday saw Simmons looking comfortable, completing passes to Caleb Odom, De’Zhaun Stribling, Trey Wallace and Deuce Alexander.

Working to build chemistry with this group is at the top of the list for Simmons over the next month.

“I have great expectations for this wide receivers room,” Simmons said. “Really, just building on it off the field. That chemistry and that relationship. Even after practice, getting those extra reps in, you know, just really getting that timing down. I could really season us doing threat things with this receiving room.”

These next few weeks are big for Simmons as he begins the journey of being a starting quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. So far the early returns are promising.

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