**OXFORD |** Former Ole Miss great and now New York Giants rookie quarterback **[Jaxson Dart](https://247sports.com/Player/Jaxson-Dart-46099432)** returned to Oxford, Thursday, to host what has become an annual youth camp with FlexWork.
It's the third-straight summer Dart has partnered up for the event at Oxford High School's football field. With a couple hundred kids in attendance, Dart saw plenty of familiar faces.
"It means a lot. Obviously, Oxford is a special place to me. It's a place I want to continue to come back to. Buying a house here so I love it here," Dart told 247Sports. "This is like a second home for me. I told my mom on the plane flight last night how excited I was just to come back to Oxford. So many faces that I've seen and met before. It's definitely special to see everybody and continue to make relationships."
In April, Dart became just the third Ole Miss quarterback ever to be selected in the first round of an NFL Draft, joining Rebel royalty with Archie and Eli Manning.
Dart spent the past few days training in San Diego with Giants teammates, but flew back to Oxford Wednesday night.
"I feel like Oxford is a little bit of an escape for me from the distractions that I have. When things are going great, things are going just okay — I'm able to come back here and I just know that the support and the relationships that I've made here are special and strong. It's a special community when everybody can gather and have your back through it all," Dart said.
The Kaysville, Utah native led the Rebels' record-setting offense for three seasons under head coach Lane Kiffin, totaling 10,617 passing yards (program-record) and 72 touchdown passes with a passing efficiency of 162.8 in 39 games played (38 starts). During his time in Oxford Dart also established himself as one of the country's top dual-threats, rushing for 1,500 yards (program record at position) to go along with 12 scores while averaging 38.4 rushing yards per game
Looking back on his tenure at Ole Miss, Dart says it was 'the best decision' for his career and that Giants coaches can build off of what he learned.
"This was the best decision I made to come here. From a coaching standpoint, being able to be developed. My coaches in the NFL definitely praise my development of being able to understand schemes and whatnot from playing in this offense and playing with the coaching staff that I did. It was a huge advantage and I don't think people really talk about it enough, especially guys coming out of high school. Just how NFL-ready this offense is and how much is on the quarterback's plate," Dart explained. "That's definitely been a huge help."
Ole Miss has the challenge of replacing the production and success under center, but Dart sees more of the same on the way for the Rebels in 2025.
"I'm really excited for the guys next year. Austin's going to kill it," he said of the 2025 Rebels. "He was my guy and just the conversations we've had, even since I've left. Him calling me and asking for advice. Me checking up on him, seeing how he's doing. I'm excited for this squad. I've seen a lot of the pieces come from the portal and they're going to be super explosive and pick up where we left off."
The Rebels' all-time leading passer has gotten some next-level advice from his former head coach, but not on the pickleball court.
"(Kiffin's) given me a little bit (of advice) — just be myself and stay competitive," Dart added. "I'm a little too busy whooping him in pickleball. I did that earlier today and he's a little sad about that. But he's great and always someone I can lean on."
Dart will report back to New Jersey for his first NFL training camp, starting next week.