Ole Miss senior quarterback Jaxson Dart concluded his illustrious collegiate career with a stellar performance in the Rebels’ commanding 52-20 victory over Duke in the Gator Bowl on Thursday night. Facing a top-15 Blue Devil defense, Dart showcased his skills, throwing for 404 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions, cementing his legacy as one of the best quarterbacks in Ole Miss history.
Dart’s senior season was already one for the record books, but his bowl game heroics further solidified his status. In 13 games this season, Dart set a program record with 4,279 passing yards and tallied 32 total touchdowns (29 passing, a career-high) against just six interceptions. His ability to make “Sunday throws” during the game, including a jaw-dropping 51-yard sideline pass to Jordan Watkins, has boosted his stock for the 2025 NFL Draft.
“He’s gonna be a major steal in the draft,” a veteran NFL scout told Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. “Dart throws the ball down the field as well as anyone, which is kind of a lost art in today’s game. Get him a couple of speed guys, and he’ll really hurt you.”
Dart leaves Ole Miss as the school’s all-time passing leader with 10,617 yards and its winningest quarterback with 29 career victories. Over his four collegiate seasons, Dart completed 65.2% of his passes for 11,970 yards, 81 touchdowns, and 27 interceptions. He was also a dual-threat, rushing for 1,543 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The Utah native is poised to become the 13th Ole Miss quarterback selected in the NFL Draft, joining names like Matt Corral, Chad Kelly, and Eli Manning. The 2025 NFL Draft will take place April 24-26 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with Dart expected to be a sought-after prospect.
