'We're just going to push forward': Ole Miss quarterback situation hitting the road
Ole Miss leaves the friendly confines of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium for the first time this season as it travels to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Going with it is the ongoing quarterback situation.
The battle to be named the starter between transfer Jaxson Dart and Luke Altmyer was thought to have come to an anti-climatic and unfortunate ending with the latter thought thought to have suffered an injury.
Altmyer came out of the game late in the first half against Central Arkansas after suffering what a described as a upper body injury and would be evaluated.
The evaluation must have went well as Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin provided a positive update on Monday at his weekly press conference.
“(Altmyer) was out there today. I think he’ll be alright,” Kiffin said. “We’re just going to push forward with the way that we’ve been going. We’re 2-0. So, we’ll figure out who goes first at some point later in the week.”
Saturday’s game was Altmyer’s turn to start after Dart started the opener against Troy. This approach is not what Kiffin anticipated doing and has noted time and time again it is “not ideal.” Altmyer threw for 90 yards and two touchdowns and an interception against the Bears.
Related: Franchise Player: Overreaction Monday! Dart could put Ole Miss QB race in a chokehold
Knowing Altmyer was starting against UCA there was a more normal and traditional approach to Ole Miss’ practices.
The Starkville native took all of the reps with the starters throughout the entire week. But with a giant question mark once again over the situation, at least publicly, that approach may not be happening this week.
During fall camp both quarterbacks took reps with the ones and alternated snaps at times. With this possibly being the case again this week as Kiffin weighs his decision, it is not a totally foreign concept for them.
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“Just is what it is,” Kiffin said. “Maybe they’re used to it. Both guys did some good things. Both guys got some things to improve on. So, we’re just going to keep pushing along.”
Heading into the first road trip of the season and playing in a new environment, knowing the starting quarterback would be helpful.
But Kiffin looks to be going to Georgia Tech (1-1) with the plan of once again letting both quarterbacks play at some points in the game.
Through two games the stats are a lopsided towards Dart, but that is due to a few different reasons. One, Dart started the opener and played three-plus quarters plus a quarter and a half last weekend. Altmyer played a majority of two quarters and one full quarter.
Dart has thrown for 336 yards, three touchdowns and an interception while Altmyer has thrown for 103 yards, two touchdowns and a pick.
Altmyer moved the ball well against UCA and led four touchdown drives in the first quarter. Though, Dart also played well when he entered the game. It also cannot be lost that it was against a Central Arkansas defense.
There are two more non-conference games left before No. 9 Kentucky (2-0) comes to Oxford to open up Southeastern Conference play on Oct. 1. Georgia Tech and Tulsa could still be part of Kiffin’s preseason-esque approach before naming his guy.
