Jaxson Dart Reveals Emotional Aspect of Quarterback Battle in 2023

Dart recently spoke with the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal where he detailed his emotions after Ole Miss added some transfer quarterbacks this offseason.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Jaxson Dart was thrust into a strange situation this offseason, but he now is bringing a competitive edge to the Ole Miss Rebels quarterback battle in fall camp.

Dart recently spoke with Michael Katz of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal where he revealed his emotions after the Rebels brought in transfer quarterbacks Spencer Sanders and Walker Howard this offseason. In short, his early feelings weren't positive, but he now claims to have a better understanding of the "why" behind these decisions.

After centering himself, he didn't see these additions as a personal shot at his ability, but as an opportunity to take his performance to another level.

"I think you do, you definitely do take it personally," Dart said to the Daily Journal. "I think there’s things that, quite honestly, that I felt when it all happened, that I didn’t really understand. I had to kind of take (a step) back and take a different perspective and, obviously realizing I was the only quarterback on scholarship is a big reason of why you bring in quarterbacks.

"With myself, my status, my confidence, that stuff has never wavered for me, and I’ve always been confident in my abilities. I just think me being able to take a big step from Year 1 to Year 2 has been a big point of emphasis for me and something I’m really excited about."

Dart has seemingly taken a big step forward, for sure. Lane Kiffin praised his quarterback during the spring for his care in handling the football, only committing one turnover throughout the entirety of camp. Paired with a then-injured Spencer Sanders, and Dart seemed to gain a step up in this quarterback race.

Now, however, Sanders is reportedly back to 100 percent, so the quarterback race could be back on during the course of fall camp. Even so, Dart is still working to ensure that he is QB1 for the Rebels at the end of the day.

"I just want to perform at the highest level and develop myself into being the player that I want to be," Dart said. "I understand (the quarterback additions) now. I’ve been able to kind of just look at it with a different perspective and understand the moves that we made. But at the same time, I’m a competitor and I’m going to have the same exact mindset, day in and day out."

Ole Miss is in the midst of fall camp throughout the month of August before opening its season at home against the Mercer Bears on Sept. 2 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. 

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You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.

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