The Grove Report

Jaxson Dart 'Not The Favorite' For Ole Miss QB1, But Who Is?

According to college football analyst Greg McElroy, Ole Miss Rebels incumbent quarterback Jaxson Dart is not the favorite to land the starting job in Oxford.

Matt Galatzan

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It appears as though the battle for the Ole Miss Rebels' starting quarterback job is going to be an interesting ride. 

During a recent interview on the Always College Football podcast, college football analyst Greg McElroy revealed his favorite to win the QB1 title for the Rebels. 

And it was not incumbent Jaxson Dart.

Rather, it was the quarterback Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin brought in to compete with Dart directly, Oklahoma State transfer, Spencer Sanders.

“Jaxson Dart is the incumbent but I would not say he is the favorite,” McElroy said. “I would think the favorite right now? Based on potential, based on upside, based on the amount of reps he’s actually gotten at the college level? I would think that Spencer Sanders, the transfer from Oklahoma State, would be the favorite.”

Dart, is coming off of a season in which, statistically at least, he performed rather well, completing 226 of 362 passes for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions, and a quarterback rating of 143.6. He also rushed 128 times for 614 yards and another score. 

Meanwhile, at Oklahoma State, Sanders put up similar numbers, completing 212 of 368 passes for 2,642 yards and 17 touchdowns with nine interceptions, while rushing for 391 yards and on 107 carries with two scores in just 10 games. 

So why is McElroy picking Sanders over Dart?

Experience. 

“(Sanders) is a four-year starter, first-team All-Big 12. He’s thrown for a million yards,” said McElroy. “He is probably still going to be the guy that I would expect to be under center for the Rebels next year.”

Either way, no matter who ends up winning the job, Rebel fans are certainly in for an interesting summer. 

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Matt Galatzan
MATT GALATZAN

Matt Galatzan the Editor-In-Chief of TheGroveReport.com. Galatzan graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he studied integrated marketing communications, with minors in journalism and business administration. Galatzan started in the sports journalism industry under Mike Fisher at DallasBasketball.com in 2014, which at the time was part of the 247Sports network. He also spent two years covering the SMU Mustangs for PonyStampede.com on the 247Sports network. When DallasBasketball.com and CowboysCountry.com moved over to Sports Illustrated's Fan Nation network in 2020, Galatzan followed suit, eventually being taking over as the Managing Editor and Publisher of LonghornsCountry.com and AllAggies.com a year later. Through the years, Galatzan has conducted a handful of high-profile one-on-one interviews to add to his resume — in both writing and podcasting. Some of his biggest interviews have been with Mavs owner Mark Cuban, former Longhorns players Dan Neil and Phil Dawson, and many other recruits, and current/former players for each of the teams he has covered. Galatzan is also a full-time employee in the digital media department for Audacy and KRLD FM's 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, which is the official radio home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can find Galatzan on all major social media channels.

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