Rebels' Jaxson Dart Named to Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Watch List

Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart is one of the veteran signal-callers in line for a prestigious postseason award.

OXFORD, Miss. -- Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart was named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Preseason Watch List on Tuesday. 

Dart is among the 48 quarterbacks nationally who have earned spots on the list. 

The list of signal-callers for this season was selected based on career player performance and expectations heading into the 2023 college football season. The Johnny Unitas Award is presented annually to the nation's top senior or upperclassman quarterback set to graduate with their class.

The preseason watch list, semifinalists, finalists, and award recipient are all selected by the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Selection Committee. The 2023 winner will receive the Golden Arm Award trophy from John Unitas Jr. at the Golden Arm Award banquet on Dec. 7.

Dart made the watch list after posting a strong 2022 season in his first year with Ole Miss where he started in 12 games and threw for for 2,974 yards and 20 touchdowns. Dart also proved to be an asset in the ground game, recording 128 carries for 614 yards and one touchdown.

Last year, Dart was one of six quarterbacks nationally who recorded at least 2,900 yards passing and 600 yards rushing. 

The Kaysville, Utah, native is poised for an even better year in 2023 now that he has had a full offseason to work with his mastermind of a coach, Lane Kiffin. It also helps that the Ole Miss offensive line is the strongest it has been in years and sophomore Quinshon Judkins is returning as the No. 1 tailback in the SEC.

Remember the jump that former Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral took in his second year with Kiffin? Expect a similar boost in stats from Dart, and there is a chance he even surpasses Corral's best.

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You can follow Ben King on Twitter at @BKing_2023.

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