Tim Tebow: Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart 'has taken the next step'
The second week of the season is here and No. 20 Ole Miss knows who its starting quarterback is this week at No. 24 Tulane and moving forward the 10 games after this week.
Jaxson Dart won the job for a second straight time after yet another quarterback position battle that dragged on through spring practices and fall camp. Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin did not name Dart the start ahead of last week’s season opener against Mercer but the junior was named the starter come game day.
On Monday the latest depth charter saw the ‘OR’ removed from between Dart and Spencer Sanders’ names, indicating the former was now the de-facto Ole Miss starter.
Dart played two quarters-plus against the Bears, throwing for 334 yards and four touchdowns. His sheet stayed clean by not throwing an interception.
The ceiling is high for Dart’s second year in Kiffin’s system and the numbers put up in what was not even a complete-game performance in week one have people taking notice outside of Oxford.
Former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow is offering up praise for Dart early in the season and gave his reasoning for why during an appearance on SportsCenter on Saturday while exclaiming, “The Lane Train is rolling!”
“Jaxson Dart, I think he’s taken the next step,” Tebow said. “One of the things I love about him, he’s not just athletic with a great arm and can run around and make plays. But this dude is tough. He will stand in the pocket and make plays. This is something that is so rare today. That you have someone that will stand in the pocket, not flinch, not hesitate but he’s going to force the other team to hesitate.”
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The rest of college football is starting to recognize what Ole Miss already knew about its quarterback.
Dart himself spoke throughout spring, summer workouts and fall camp about the growth in his game and his maturity with the playbook and game management.
While going through another battle for what Dart has always felt was his spot to lose the confidence did not waiver and the first sample size of the results of that confidence were on display last week.
That performance made Dart one of the highest-graded quarterbacks from week one.
“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.”
Dart can add to his fast start on Saturday when the Rebels (1-0) take on Tulane (1-0) in an early-season road test. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT and will air on ESPN2 for Ole Miss fans not in New Orleans heading to Yulman Stadium.
