Ole Miss is ‘not a team yet; just a roster.’ But the ‘sky’s the limit’ if the Rebels come together.
Jordan Watkins and Jaxson Dart have served as the other’s right-hand man since around Christmas.
They were leading figures in helping sixth-year head coach Lane Kiffin and his coaching staff secure a Top 3 transfer class, which boosted an already-loaded, veteran-laden Ole Miss roster for 2024. The College Football Playoff is expanding to 12 teams next season. The Rebels won 11 games in 2023 and have been ranked in the Top 10 in each of the last three years.
They brought back (and kept from the NFL Draft) a number of key veterans. Watkins and Dart were joined by, among others, defensive linemen Jared Ivey and JJ Pegues, tight end Caden Prieskorn and offensive linemen Caleb Warren and Jeremy James.
Even more, the pair has provided much-needed daily support for the other as they each toil away in the always-grueling off-season grind. Watkins and Dart are both entering their third season of starting for the Ole Miss offense — Dart, of course, at quarterback, and Watkins at wide receiver.
“When the (portal) was open, a lot of the students weren’t here,” Watkins said. “Me and Dart, we were just working our tails off trying to get guys here. JJ (Pegues) was helping out, too. Just trying to build something special here. It’s fun to be able to see all that come together.
“With the recruiting portal opening back up, get back out there and do it all over again.”
Watkins said it was Dart who put him on a healthier, more greens-based diet.
He’s even had to give up his beloved McDonald’s.
But Watkins had no choice, really. He hasn’t been healthy for a full season at any point in his career, which dates back to Louisville in 2021. Watkins was third on the team in receptions (53) and receiving yards (741) last season. He had three touchdowns and returned punts for the Rebels, too.
“The main goal for me is just to stay healthy. I’ve had a lot of injuries throughout my career,” Watkins said. “I don’t think I’ve ever played a full season truly healthy. The biggest thing for me is just my diet. I’ve really changed my diet around. Just eating more healthy (and) adding greens to my plate. Making sure I have the right portion of proteins to greens. Me and Jaxson have really pushed each other on our diets.
“I was a big McDonald’s guy. Big, big McDonald’s guy. I’ve had to cut that out. It’s been tough. I don’t think I’ve had McDonald’s in like three months.”
Ole Miss will close out the spring with the Grove Bowl April 13.
However, the Rebels are expected to approach the annual team-wide scrimmage like the NFL’s Pro Bowl Games. Most years they’ve held a mock, split-team scrimmage fashioned after a typical Rebel football Saturday.
“We’re not a team yet; we’re just a roster,” Watkins said. “We’re just a group of names all on a list (indicating) they play football at Ole Miss. if we all come together as a team? The sky’s the limit — national championship, College Football Playoffs. That’s our expectation.
“We became a team last year somewhere around fall camp. I expect that, because we’ll add more guys in the summer. Fall camp’s just the time where it’s just you guys. Nobody’s on campus (and) and you’re here 24/7.”
