Dart, who began his college career at USC, enters his third year leading Lane Kiffin’s explosive Ole Miss offense, which finished third in the SEC and 13th in the nation in yards per game in 2023. Dart has 6,338 passing yards in two seasons at Ole Miss, ranking him in fifth in program history and in legitimate striking distance of the all-time mark, held by Eli Manning (10,119).
Manning, whose college career ran from 2000-03, also holds school records with 31 touchdown passes in a single season 84 over his collegiate career. The latter is probably a stretch for Dart, who enters the year with 43 career touchdown passes, but Manning supports Dart’s pursuit of his school records , he said during a May fundraiser.
Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart speaks to reporters in Dallas during 2024 SEC media days.
Courtesy of the SEC
Dart didn’t shy away from the idea of chasing those milestones, and appreciates the support from the Rebels great.
“I think me and Eli have been able to grow a strong relationship through my time at Ole Miss,” Dart said Monday at SEC media days. “I think when you go into a program, you kind of look at those records and you definitely have the thought in the back of your mind that you always want to chase that, that you always want to chase after the best. So he’s always been a good role model for me.”
The former and current Ole Miss quarterbacks have spent time together this offseason at a fundraiser for The Grove Collective NIL group and at the Manning Passing Academy.
“I enjoyed his personality. I was able to take some lighthearted digs at him, and he reciprocated and did the same with me, which is fun, that’s what it’s all about, it kind of makes it special for the group,” Manning said of Dart at last month’s Passing Academy. “I got to hang with him last night and eat dinner with him, he seems like a great kid and has a good head on his shoulders. I’m excited about his future.”
Jaxson Dart statistics at Ole Miss:
Year
Comp. %
Yards
TDs
INTs
2022
62.4
2,974
20
11
2023
65.1
3,364
23
5
The Rebels program has enjoyed a solid run of quarterbacks between Manning and Dart, many of whom populate the school’s lists of passing leaders.
Chad Kelly holds the school’s single-season passing yardage record, having thrown for 4,042 yards in 2015. If Dart can catch him, he’d clear Manning’s career mark as well.
At 6,800 yards between the ’15 and ’16 seasons, Kelly is the first quarterback that Dart can pass on the all-time school list. From there, he’ll have his sights on Matt Corral (8,287 yards, 2018-21) and Bo Wallace (9,534 yards, 2012-14) before chasing Manning’s career record.
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