'The Last Dance': Jaxson Dart announces return to Ole Miss for final season in 2024
Ole Miss fans got its New Year off to a strong start as the news they were waiting on arrived before lunch time on January 1.
Quarterback Jaxson Dart announced his return to the Rebels for one final season with a simple “I’m Back.” The video announced, posted across his social media accounts, also played the infamous Allan Parsons Project song “Sirius” used for the Chicago Bulls starting lineup in the Micheal Jordan era.
The video also said the following: “For the last few great ones out there… Come join us for the last dance.” Dart’s statement could be interpreted as strong message to transfer portal targets or recruits still on the fence.
Either way Ole Miss is officially going to be a national title contender with its quarterback locked in for the 2024 season and the final question mark removed from the board.
Dart is coming off a Peach Bowl performance where it could be argued it was his best game in an Ole Miss uniform. He completed 25-of-40 pass attempts for 379 yards and three touchdowns. He ran for 14 yards and a touchdown on eight carries and hauled in a 15-yard pass from Jordan Watkins with the ‘Philly Special’ play call.
“I think it’s a really cool time right now at Ole Miss,” head coach Lane Kiffin said in his postgrame press conference. “To win the most games (in a season) in the history of the school and to have so many pieces already announcing that they’re coming back, which I made sure a couple of them are still doing that after their performances (on Saturday).
“It’s a really special time. I said that when we I got hired, we didn’t come here to be good and win some decent bowl games and some matches. We came here to be great, win New Year’s Six bowls like this, be a top ten program.”
Dart is that final piece Kiffin was waiting on for official confirmation of a return. He joins receivers Tre Harris and Watkins along with tight end Caden Prieskorn in players returning on offense. That paired with Quinshon Judkins the Ole Miss offense is fully intact.
