Jaxson Dart didn’t back down.
Mississippi’s starting quarterback suddenly faced a challenge for the job during the spring after coach Lane Kiffin brought in two transfers, including four-year Oklahoma State starter Spencer Sanders.
Dart, who leads the 15th-ranked Rebels against No. 13 Alabama Saturday in Tuscaloosa, held onto the job and has perhaps been better than ever so far this season.
“I think the challenges and adversity make us all better,” Kiffin said this week. “Even though I’m sure he didn’t like it at the time, it was good for him. He’s played extremely well.”
Dart was pretty good last season after transferring from USC, which is why the addition of Sanders and LSU transfer Walker Howard was notable even in the era of transfer portal musical chairs.
A couple of days later, Kiffin made it official. Dart was his starter. Still.
He leads Ole Miss into its biggest test of the season having dispatched Mercer and Georgia Tech easily and helped the Rebels to a road win over then-No. 22 Tulane.
Dart ranks fifth in the FBS in total offense, averaging 355 yards per game, sixth in passing efficiency (202.45) and second in yards per completion (18.93).
All those numbers are significantly ahead of last year’s, though better defenses no doubt await — including Alabama’s.
“We thought he was a really good player last year, so I think he’s playing extremely well this year,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said. “I can’t really say as a great comparison, but he’s throwing the ball well, he’s always a threat as a runner. They have quarterback runs in their offense, which he does a great job of reading them.
“And this guy’s tough and a great competitor. It’s going to be really challenging for us to play him run and pass.”
Dart passed for 251 yards and a touchdown against Georgia Tech and ran for 136 yards and two scores. He has had to step up his game with some of the Rebels’ best playmakers sidelined or limited by injury, including tailback Quinshon Judkins and wide receiver Tre Harris.
