Jaxson Dart is kicking off his potential 2024 Heisman Trophy campaign with a bang for Ole Miss through three weeks. After the destruction of Wake Forest on Saturday, Dart is now third all-time in passing yards and fifth in passing touchdowns for Ole Miss. And when it comes to the top competition this season for the Heisman, Dart is annihilating most everyone. Now he's one of the top three favorites to win the most prestigious individual award in college football.
Coming into the game against Wake Forest, Dart already easily owned the national lead in passing yards per game and a few other key rate stats, but now he's extended his leads across the board. After tossing the rock for 377 more yards, adding 35 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns in the 40-6 thrashing of Wake Forest, Jaxson Dart now owns the lead in just about every meaningful statistical category among passers.
He has over 1200 total yards, 100 more passing yards than any other QB, the highest completion rate in the SEC, and the highest efficiency marks for adjusted yards per pass attempt, yards per game, and passer rating. The only area where he isn't completely dominating the national competition for Heisman Trophy consideration is the rushing game, but he certainly showed off his dual threat ability against Wake Forest (as you can see on his touchdown run below).
Dart's passing production hasn't been easy scheme-inflated work either as some tend to assume with him. Yes, Lane Kiffin is a solid offensive mind, but Jaxson Dart has simply been executing at an elite level with seemingly every single pass attempt. His ball placement on a couple key throws against Wake Forest on Saturday highlighted that perfectly.
For example, his touchdown toss to Antwane Wells Jr. in the fourth quarter was an absolute dime as "Juice" hauled in the perfect pass one-handed catch down the side line.
Wells was not really open, but Dart placed the ball so perfectly over the outside shoulder of his receiver that the defender had zero chance getting a hand on the ball. It's plays like that one that will fill up Dart's Heisman highlight tape when he inevitably makes it to New York in December.
Coming into Week 3 it was Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers that held the Heisman odds lead, but after he suffered an abdominal injury against UTSA it was Arch Manning that came in, dominated, and is now one of a few quarterbacks competing against Dart for the prestigious award. Besides those two Texas quarterbacks, the only other real threats to win the Heisman over Dart are Jalen Milroe of Alabama and Cameron Ward of Miami, and the Heisman odds boards reflect this:
FanDuel Heisman Odds Leaderboard (as of now)
- Cameron Ward, QB Miami (FL) +480
- Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama +600
- Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss +700
- Dillon Gabriel, QB Oregon +1000
- Nico Iamaleava, QB Tennessee +1000
- Carson Beck, QB Georgia +1400
- Arch Manning, QB Texas +1700
Dart leaped up the Heisman odds board with his strong performance (from fringe top five to top three). And as the masses realize just how impressive a lead he has over the rest in most categories it's likely Dart finds himself atop this list very soon.
Cameron Ward is the only power conference quarterback threatening Dart's passing yards lead (outside of TCU's Josh Hoover, who has no shot at the Heisman). Jalen Milroe's legs are going to have to carry him if he wants to even be in the conversation, but it looks like that's a possibility now that he has almost 160 rushing yards and six scores already.
After those top two (and perhaps the Texas QBs) no other quarterbacks are truly even close to what Dart is currently doing. Dillon Gabriel, Nico Iamaleava, and Carson Beck all have imperfections to their 2024 Heisman Trophy profiles already. Let's just hope Dart keeps this up on his way to Ole Miss' first ever playoff appearance to end this season.
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