JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Ole Miss redshirt freshman Austin Simmons obtained an instance of quarterback management within the Gator Bowl. It simply value him a couple of snaps.
In his last recreation, Rebels’ senior Jaxson Dart refused to sub out Thursday of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl with the Rebels’ properly in management in opposition to Duke in what could be a 52-20 rout. There was a story {that a} non-School Soccer Playoff bowl was meaningless for the Rebels, particularly after Ole Miss (10-3) fell simply in need of Dart’s win-out ultimatum issued from a cramped room beneath Dying Valley after LSU beat Ole Miss on Oct. 12. At greatest, a bowl win was only a comfort prize.
And but, even with Chad Kelly’s single-season information damaged and an enormous lead at hand, Dart shook off coach Lane Kiffin. Dart didn’t come out of the sport when Simmons began to trot on the sphere within the fourth quarter.
“I really tried to take Jaxson out when you noticed earlier,” Kiffin mentioned postgame. “He refused to exit, which says rather a lot about him.”
Most Insurgent stars adopted Dart’s lead when the quarterback mentioned he was placing threat of harm apart to play one final recreation. Defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Princely Umanmielen, each possible early-round NFL Draft picks, had been doing battle within the trenches all through the primary half and into the second.
“I instructed my teammates, my coaches and my mother earlier than the sport that I’ll depart every thing I’ve out on that subject,” Dart mentioned. “I play the sport the best way that I play it, and I do not actually look into the longer term. I am simply there for the second and I’ll compete.
Dart even took his zeal for the sport too far in Kiffin’s eyes by throwing a 69-yard landing to receiver Jordan Watkins with 1:09 left. Kiffin mentioned he apologized to Duke (9-4) coach Manny Diaz for the last-second landing.
“(Watkins and I) instructed one another, if we’ll be on the market, we’ll play soccer,” Dart mentioned. “And so they pressed (Watkins).”
Simmons ultimately entered the sport on Ole Miss’ last possession. He regarded poised to take over the offense subsequent season. He performed nice in restricted motion in opposition to Georgia and accomplished his solely cross for 34 yards in opposition to Duke after Kiffin lastly satisfied Dart to take a curtain name within the waning seconds.
Kiffin cannot consider a extra optimum mentor for Simmons that Dart, who he has backed up for 2 seasons.
“(Austin) has had this huge brother displaying him each solution to do each single factor proper — apart from making his personal performs up on the finish,” Kiffin mentioned.
Kiffin has described his relationship with Dart as a father/son kind connection. Dart performs along with his coronary heart on his sleeve. Kiffin loves him for it.
Dart threw for 404 yards and 4 touchdowns on 27-of-35 passing in opposition to Duke. In his three years at Ole Miss after transferring from USC, Dart handed Eli Manning to exit Ole Miss as the varsity’s all-time chief in passing yards.
“I feel you might have quite a lot of delight while you play this recreation,” Dart mentioned. “You may have quite a lot of delight that you just carry over while you put on this jersey. We really feel like Oxford has given extra to us than we may give to them. You’ve got heard coach Kiffin say that, however we really feel that means too, being transfers.”
Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. E mail him at Shutchens@gannett.com or attain him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_
This text initially appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: How Ole Miss soccer quarterback Jaxson Dart set golden instance
