NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - SEPTEMBER 09: Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels throws the ball against the Tulane Green Wave during a game at Yulman Stadium on September 09, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Action Jaxson: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss

September 30, 2023 | William Yanish | Articles

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – SEPTEMBER 09: Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels reacts against the Tulane Green Wave during a game at Yulman Stadium on September 09, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

The 2024 NFL Draft class is loaded with arm talent, which turns our attention to Ole Miss quarterback (QB) Jaxson Dart.

There’s no question some of the mid-range QB prospects should definitely consider waiting until the 2025 NFL Draft to declare. My point is – I already have eight QBs with first-round grades.

Where does that leave Dart?

Last year, as a sophomore, I watched him take on former Heisman Trophy-winning QB Bryce Young and Alabama all the way until the clock expired. They came up just short with a pass [outside the fingertips of wide receiver (WR) Jonathan Mingo.

This year he was not so lucky. A hungry Alabama team had already received their wake-up call from a beatdown by Texas and were ready for him.

First committed to USC, Dart transferred to Ole Miss when QB Matt Corral was then drafted in the third-round by the Carolina Panthers.

Some QBs blow up after their sophomore year like none other. Sometimes it takes longer. Dart is only 20 years old. Let me tell you a little bit about him, though.

The Yanish Report

Solid, dense athletic body type. Classic, timing-based footwork. Navigates the pocket like a menace. Runs headmost to the max. Run-pass options (RPOs) work well. Long, compact release. Arm strength is massive. Tosses darts. 😉 Can take the heat off the ball. Throws with uncanny accuracy. Gunslinger persona. Leadership stands out. To break character and tell you straight up, he needs to grow. He has field general potential and he needs to throw a shoulder to gnash a chip into it. All the tools are there, but there has to be evolution to succeed. Period.

For the win

After just watching Dart versus Alabama this year, I want to see a defining moment for him. In 2022 versus Alabama, Ole Miss was given every chance to beat them. This year it was a defensive struggle with a halftime score of 9-7. Alabama’s adjustments on both sides of the ball worked and they ended up winning the game 24-10.

The mistakes that he made are simple things that could be cleaned up. Those include a wobbling duck interception and an overthrow of blown coverage in the end zone. Both would have sealed the game. The five sacks he took are also on that list. These things are huge because playing against Alabama is a good NFL warm-up.

The margin doesn’t seem to be much for Dart.

There is a lot asked of Dart in Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin’s offense. He needs to step up, take command, and separate himself.

I see something in this kid, but without the funding from a juggernaut of a university, he has some work to do. That also speaks for the talent he has around him.

Dart can sink or swim, the choice is his. I feel his best option is to stay in school to hone his craft and avoid the 2024 draft class. I want to see more.

My BIG three questions

1. Why isn’t anyone talking about Dart?

2. What can he do to avoid riding the pine?

3. If he returns next year, will he get a media push?

How Dart stacks up and game film reviewed

My 2024 NFL Draft Value: Third Round

2022 Game Film Evidence

2023:

William Yanish III is a lifelong football fan. He’s from the little town of Crawford, Colorado. Along the way, he’s lived in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, and Brookings, Oregon. Quarterback Joe Montana was his idol growing up. A little bit of CTE from life’s adventures killed his dreams as a football player. Now, he is an aspiring writer and Draft Analyst at FirstRoundMock.com. He’s a fanatic with a dream, which is coming true.