Pro Football Focus High On Rebels Quarterback Room Entering 2023
Teams win or lose in college football based on quarterback play. Defense matters. So do playmakers. No other position, however, will change the course of a game as much as the man calling plays under center.
Ole Miss enters 2023 with a promising problem on its hands. Jaxson Dart returns to Oxford for a second stint in Lane Kiffin's offense, and pressure is on for him to deliver. The good news? Kiffin aggressively raised the level of competition at the position, adding former Oklahoma State starter Spencer Sanders and former LSU five-star passer Walker Howard.
Pro Football Focus isn't ready to give the Portal King the crown of top quarterback room in college football, but remains high on the potential of all three options being factors to Ole Miss' success. In their latest quarterback room rankings, PFF listed the Rebels No. 4 overall and second in the SEC, trailing USC, LSU and Texas for the top spot.
It's hard to argue the top three entering July. USC returns Heisman winner and potential 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams. Jayden Daniels helped Brian Kelly reach 10 wins in Year 1 down in Baton Rouge, pulling off upset wins over then-No. 7 Ole Miss and No. 6 Alabama. And while Quinn Ewers should be feeling pressure to provide the Longhorns a Big 12 championship, his 368-yard performance against No. 12 Washington in the Alamo Bowl should be a nice building block for the future.
The trio of teams also boasts exceptional talent working with the second-team unit. Miller Moss, a former four-star recruit, has won over Lincoln Riley and likely would be starting elsewhere should he ever decide to leave via the portal. Garrett Nussmier pushed Daniels in spring football and might even surpass the senior by midseason. And fans on the Forty Acres have clamored for Maalik Murphy to fight for starting reps alongside Ewers after a promising performance in the Orange-White game.
Dart, who threw for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, should remain QB1 until further notice. Kiffin praised the former USC commit's attention to detail and maturation in the pocket this spring. Teammates also spoke highly of his development under offensive coordinator Charlie Wiess Jr. a year removed from his hiring.
"The offense is ahead of the defense, which is probably what you would expect with a new scheme on defense," Kiffin said in April. "Very pleased with the quarterback production, leading with Jaxson. He's had a really good couple weeks and was really good Saturday."
Sanders likely pushes for the starting job first due to experience. A four-year starter in Stillwater, Sanders' veteran presence is a welcomed addition to the locker room regardless of his status as the starter. In 43 games, the 6-1 senior threw for 9,553 yards and 67 touchdowns against 40 interceptions while tacking on another 1,956 yards and 18 scores with his legs.
Howard has the most upside. He's still working on the little things to build a rapport with his receivers, but the arm strength, accuracy and decision-making are up to par to start in a pinch.
The Rebels were one of four SEC schools ranked inside PFF's top 10 quarterback rooms. Tennessee, which ranked No. 7, must replace two-year starter Hendon Hooker, but have options in the cannon-armed Joe Milton and highly-touted five-star phenom Nico Iamaleava.
Two-time defending champion Georgia, which ranked No. 8, will enter a new chapter without Stetson Bennett. From a talent standpoint, the Bulldogs could upgrade in traits with either Carson Beck or Brock Vandagriff. Georgia also features redshirt freshman Gunner Stockton, another top-ranked recruit whose upside could make him one of the top passers in the conference by 2024.
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