'They'll Make Each Other Better': The Ole Miss quarterback race set to heat up at fall camp
ATLANTA — Hard to learn much of anything new when it comes to the SEC Football Media Days as coaches have not been around their teams daily since the end of spring. Though Lane Kiffin did discuss his quarterback battle to see who will be Matt Corral’s successor.
Luke Altmyer and Jaxson Dart competed throughout spring to try and find out who might take the edge in the battle into the summer break or maybe even completely grab hold of the reigns altogether.
The latter did not occur but Altmyer looked to have edged out Dart once the Grove Bowl concluded in late April. The Southern California transfer did not have a consistent or stellar spring, allowing for Altmyer to nudge ahead.
The Starkville native also played in Kiffin’s system last season, including three quarters of the Sugar Bowl, which allowed some familiarity to occur for Altmyer.
Among the many topics Kiffin was asked about throughout his day at the College Football Hall of Fame the quarterback battle was indeed one of them.
“It’ll be a fun competition, seeing the guys play it out,” Kiffin said. “Both the guys did good things in the spring and did some things, both are still young. A lot (asked of them) will be leading the team and taking care of the ball and making really good decisions. They’ll make each other better.”
Both quarterbacks have taken the steps over the summer break to improve their game, working with the receivers on their own time.
Dart took the time to work with newcomer Jordan Watkins and others.
Even the receivers who were not able to fully work with the pair of quarterbacks in the spring also took notice of how both were working to improve.
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“It’s fun watching two younger quarterbacks. It’s different,” Said Jonathan Mingo. “Matt been my quarterback for three years. So, it’s fun watching them play and then it’s going to be even more fun during fall camp. Whoever coach picks, I’m behind them.”
There is not a set timetable for Kiffin in terms of deciding who the starter will be on Sept. 3. Having the schedule setup the way that it does with the traditional format of all four non-conference games the first four weeks of the season is not forcing an issue.
Both Dart and Altmyer could very easily be sharing time under center throughout all of September and possibly into early October unless one becomes a clear front runner.
“It was good to have those guys for spring,” Kiffin said. “It’s very competitive. We look forward to those guys battling it out and making them both the best that we can because a lot of times you need both.”
