Ole Miss QB Spencer Sanders Goes Inside the Rebels QB Battle

The new Rebel transfer had his first appearance with the media on Thursday.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Spencer Sanders' money is on himself. That much is for certain.

Although the former quarterback of the Oklahoma State Cowboys is new in the Ole Miss Rebels offense, he is not taking his new opportunity for granted and recently spoke with the media about the ongoing quarterback battle in Oxford.

Sanders is competing against incumbent starter Jaxson Dart as well as LSU Tigers transfer Walker Howard for the 2023 starting spot. So far, just two days into spring ball, he is enjoying the competitiveness.

"It's a good battle," Sanders said on Thursday. "Dart is a well-talented quarterback. So is Walker Howard. We probably have the most stacked quarterback room across the country.

"At the end of the day, it's only going to make each other better. We all love each other. We've got good relationships."

Position battles can always get heated, even during the offseason. For now, however, Sanders believes that he and his quarterbacking counterparts have a good bond, both on and off the field.

"We get along well," Sanders said. "We were just doing yoga together on the football field the other week, and everybody was laughing. I feel like our relationship is good."

So, why did the veteran quarterback decide to transfer to Ole Miss? Jaxson Dart is a returning starter, and he could have gone numerous places in the country. Instead, he opted to come play for Lane Kiffin and the Rebels. 

"I've never run from competition or opportunity," Sanders said. "I feel like there's a lot of opportunity here. Kiffin is a smart coach. Coach [Charlie] Weis is a very smart offensive coordinator. We've got a good team here. Good players. Just excited."

Even though he eventually decided to transfer, the decision to leave Stillwater, Okla., was not an easy one, although Sanders did not go into detail about what led to his decision.

"It was very difficult," Sanders said. "Stayed there for five years. I have respect for the university. Love the university. We didn't have a problem. Some things went sideways, and we had to split ways. I'd rather not discuss it with the media."

Sanders believes that Dart has somewhat of an advantage over his competitors due to having been in the Ole Miss offense for a full season, but that isn't making him shy about what he believes he can bring to the table in 2023.

"Jaxson has been in the offense for a while, and he knows the ins-and-outs," Sanders said. "But it's spring ball. There is no history when it comes to spring ball. A lot of those guys out there give great effort. They're great guys, but advantage-wise, I'd give it to No. 2.

"[I bring] explosive plays. Quickness, speed, tempo. That kind of fits into my forte, as well. I can do a lot with my legs, extending plays."

The transfer quarterback has reportedly been dealing with a shoulder injury that limited him prior to spring practice, and although he admits he is not yet at 100 percent, he feels that his team (along with his own talents) can be special this fall.

"We've got a lot of talented guys out there," Sanders said. "A lot of opportunity just even coming here. We've got so many great players who can make great plays. It's exciting to see what's next."

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You can follow John Macon on Twitter at @JMakeGillespie.

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