SCRIMMAGE REPORT: What Ole Miss QB Stood Out On Saturday?
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OXFORD, Miss. -- The Ole Miss Rebels quarterback situation will continue to evolve throughout spring practice, but it is also the focus of most fans' minds. Who will QB1 be for their team this fall?
The Rebels held an open scrimmage for fans and media on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, and although practices such as these are very "watered-down," there are a few observations to be made from the action under center.
Each signal caller accounted for at least one passing touchdown on the day, but here are one observer's takeaways.
1. Jaxson Dart appears to be the frontrunner as of now, and why shouldn't he be?
Dart took most of the first-team reps on Saturday. I use the term "first-team" loosely because in today's game, depth charts are often thrown out the window. It's a combination of first- and second-string guys in most formations, but the Rebels' incumbent quarterback took the first and most significant snaps on Saturday afternoon.
And, to be frank, why wouldn't he? Head coach Lane Kiffin himself has said that Dart is one of the most improved players this spring, and his familiarity with the offense paired with Spencer Sanders' injury issues give him a leg up currently, at least in theory.
It's also worth noting that some of Dart's throws were very impressive. There was one in particular where he felt pressure from the defensive line, moved up in the pocket and threw an off-balance dart to Michael Trigg for a significant gain. For those who are not familiar with passing mechanics, that's not easy to do when your lower body is not involved in the process.
Regardless, it's just one scrimmage, but Kiffin may be right. Dart looked good on Saturday.
2. Spencer Sanders does not appear to be 100 percent healthy, and he has admitted as much.
A couple of Sanders' throws were not as spiraled as one might hope, but a tip-drill interception highlighted his day in my mind.
He is obviously talented, and his legs are dangerous as he made multiple plays on the ground in the scrimmage. Still, he looks like a very talented quarterback in a new offensive system that has been hampered by injury. Some throws were good, and others were not, but you can tell he is still recovering and learning this scheme here in the spring.
3. Walker Howard can grow into the real deal if he's given time.
Howard is not as speedy as Sanders in pads, but for him to be so young, he can sling it.
The LSU transfer was highly-touted for a reason, and he made some impressive throws on Saturday. You can see that he still has room to grow (as any young QB in the college game does), but Lane Kiffin likely has his quarterback of the future, even if he doesn't win the battle this season.
You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.
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