Ole Miss quarterbacks are holding high carnival this weekend in Thibodeaux, La., as the annual Manning Passing Academy takes place. Among them are the legendary Archie and Eli Manning, the Rebels' latest first-round pick at the position Jaxson Dart, Dart's heir-apparent in Austin Simmons and former Ole Miss QBs Walker Howard and Luke Altmyer. Howard now starts for Louisiana-Lafayette, while Altmyer is entering his second season as the starter for Illinois.
All three current quarterbacks spent time behind Dart as the Ole Miss backup, and all three offered interesting comparisons of that time.
"Seeing how he approached every single game...the type of mindset he did...and really just handling adversity," Simmons, who by all accounts will be Dart's replacement in the lineup this fall, told Biloxi's WLOX sports anchor Matt DeGregorio. "This SEC is the toughest conference in college football, and just seeing how he handled everything...when he was in the film room, how often he was at the facility every single day, just seeing how round he is as a quarterback is something special to look at."
Simmons played sparingly behind Dart during the 2024 season with his brightest moment coming when he replaced an injured Dart versus Georgia and led the Rebels'on a critical touchdown drive that played a major part in the victory. All told, he completed 19-of-32 passes for 282 passing yards and two touchdowns last fall.
Dart was selected in the first round of this year's NFL Draft by the New York Giants.
Former Ole Miss quarterback Walker Howard, who is now in line to become the starter at Louisiana-Lafayette, also holds Dart in high esteem.
"That guy wasn't scared of anything," Howard said. "...Watching him play, he's very physical. He did an unbelievable job, won the teammates over. He won the team, won the fans and he did an unbelievable job. That's what I want to do (at UL-Lafayette).
"We were really cool. He's my boy, and we've been through a lot together. I'll be there for him. he's been there for me. That's how our relationship is."
Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons (Photo: 247Sports)
Finally, it was Luke Altmyer who Dart beat out to win the Rebels' starting job. Altmyer subsequently transferred to Illinois, where he has become a star in his own right.
"We competed hard, and I gave it my all," said Altmyer. "I gave it my best every single day. I didn't waste a day. To be in that position with a guy who is a first rounder...we did a lot of cool things in college. I believed in myself every single day and gave it my best. It only gives me confidence to be able to compete with the best of the best. It was good for me and my future. My character...it was difficult...but I wouldn't trade it for the world."
The Ole Miss Rebels open the 2025 season on Sat., Aug. 30, versus Georgia State in Oxford.