‘What if Jaxson Dart takes another step?’: Spring has sprung for playoff-dreaming Ole Miss football
Ole Miss football returns, in spring form, on Thursday, March 6. The Rebels will hold practices for the next two months, culminating in the annual Grove Bowl April 13.
The Rebels have a pair of light practices scheduled this week before taking spring break off. Both sessions are closed to the media and fans.
Ole Miss picks back up on Tuesday, March 19. Media will be allowed to view select periods, while fifth-year head coach Lane Kiffin and a few players will hold a press conference afterwards.
“What if Jaxson Dart takes another step?” On3 national college football analyst JD PicKell said Tuesday in his pre-spring analysis of the Rebels.
Ole Miss, last season, won 11 games for the first time in program history. The Rebels took down Penn State in the Peach Bowl — the second New Year’s Six for Ole Miss in the last three years.
“Year one to year two, takes a massive leap forward,” PicKell added of Dart. “The team responded accordingly. They went from 8-5 to 11-2. What if he goes from 23 touchdowns to 33 touchdowns? What if he cuts down all those interceptions even more?
“Look at the weapons for Ole Miss. Juice Wells, getting him via the portal. Tre Harris, absolute dog coming back. The defense is going to be better because of what they did in the portal.
“If Jaxson Dart takes another step forward, Ole Miss is going to be an SEC title contender in a very real way. They’ll be a real force to be reckoned with and in the College Football Playoff. I’d buy stock now. I think he’s going to take another step forward.”
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RELATED: There are always surprises in spring training — who will be Ole Miss’ this spring?
Back at it tomorrow ⏳#HottyToddy pic.twitter.com/UA0RyVOV5S
— Ole Miss Football (@OleMissFB) March 6, 2024
The Grove Bowl will kick off at 3 p.m. CT.
Ole Miss is rolling into the 2024 campaign ranked as high as No. 5 by Pro Football Focus and CBS Sports. The Rebels were ranked No. 7 by On3.
Ole Miss brought in 31 mid-year enrollees, including 17 Division I transfers. The Rebels also return 60 letter-winners from last season, when they finished as college football’s No. 9 team. It was Ole Miss’ highest final slotting in the Associated Press poll since 1969.
The Rebels have been to four straight bowls under Kiffin and last season again featured one of the nation’s top offenses. Ole Miss was No. 12 in scoring offense (35.1) and No. 13 in total offense (461.9). The Rebels led the nation in fewest turnovers (7).
GROVE BOWL WEEKEND
Friday, April 12
Women’s Tennis vs. Missouri, 3 p.m.
Softball vs. Western Kentucky, 6 p.m.
Baseball vs. Mississippi State, 7 p.m.
Saturday, April 13
Grove Bowl, 3 p.m.
Softball vs. Western Kentucky, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs. Mississippi State, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 14
Women’s Tennis vs. Arkansas, 1 p.m.
Softball vs. Western Kentucky, 1 p.m.
Baseball vs. Mississippi State, 1:30 p.m.
