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Ole Miss

Nick Saban considers Jaxson Dart 'a threat' when it comes to the Ole Miss run game

11by: Jake Thompson09/20/23JakeThompsonOn3
NCAA Football: Mercer at Mississippi
Sep 2, 2023; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) runs the ball during the first half against the Mercer Bears at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Ole Miss and Alabama locked up last November for a rare late-season meeting where the fortunes of both teams season went in opposite directions following that week.

Though it seemed Jaxson Dart continued to show improvement the final part of his first year as a Rebel while the team’s overall success waned. That included his effort against the Alabama defense in the Tide’s 30-24 victory.

Dart completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for 212 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 35 yards on 16 carries. Those stats do not jump off the page but it did catch the attention of Alabama head coach Nick Saban.

Fast forward just shy of 11 months later and Saban is once again giving Dart his flowers just days before No. 15 Ole Miss (3-0) travels to Tuscaloosa to take on the No. 13 Crimson Tide (2-1).

“We thought he was a really good player last year. I think he’s playing extremely well this year,” Saban said of Dart. “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 is tough and a great competitor, and it’ll be really challenging for us to play him run and pass.”

The praise is high for Dart as Saban has not been in short supply of elite quarterbacks at Alabama over the last 16 seasons.

Entering his second season at Ole Miss Dart won the quarterback battle for a second straight season, beating out Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders. Through three games Dart has thrown for 852 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

On the ground Dart recorded his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, and third of his Ole Miss career. Against the Georgia Tech defense Dart ran for a game-high 136 yards and a pair of touchdowns, bringing his season total to 213 yards and the two scores.

Ole Miss head coach as well as Dart’s parents are wanting him to make plays, but also be smart when running.

Entering the game against the Yellow Jackets last Saturday the initial game plan was not for Dart to be running as much as he ended up doing.

The game evolved into the necessity of Dart doing what he needed to get the offense going after bogging down in the first half.

“His parents have really tough mindsets,” said Ole Miss head caoch. “His mom runs marathons and his dad was a safety. He has that in him, which is good. But he has to be smart when he (uses his physicality). He’s got a competitive, tough side to him for sure.”

Dart’s mother also agrees with her son being smarter about when to run and how to safely stop running to avoid any injury.

“No, I definitely need to start doing that,” Dart said after Saturday’s game. “My mom tells me every single day on the walk, she actually told me, ‘You need to remember to slide today.’ I guess I just forgot, but I’ll remember.”

Dart gets his next chance to ‘remember’ this Saturday when Ole Miss and Alabama kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT on CBS.

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