Few have shot up NFL Draft boards in recent weeks more than Ole Miss product Jaxson Dart. The Utah native signed with the Ole Miss Rebels following a one-year stint out west with USC and started under center in Oxford for three seasons.
Dart has capitalized on a senior season in which he earned First-team All-SEC honors by participating in scouting events such as the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, and performing well.
Although Dart has surged his NFL Draft stock, the majority around the league believe Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are still the class' consensus top two quarterbacks.
However, in a recent one-on-one interview with CBS Sports, the Rebels' all-time leading passer made the case for himself to be considered this year's top signal-caller.
"I think it comes down to the intangibles for me. I think my leadership, being able to change a culture. Then on the field — I feel like I'm the toughest guy out there. I'm the guy that sets the tempo for the offense and I feel like I can make every throw," Dart explained. "I feel like I can do anything the team needs me to do to win a game. I'm the ultimate competitor. I think everything's tied into that separates me. But there's a lot of great guys out here and it's been a lot of fun meeting them, get to know them. But yeah, I'm the ultimate competitor."
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As a senior in 2024, Dart threw for 4,279 passing yards while completing 69.3 percent of his passes. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound gunslinger also accounted for 32 total touchdowns (29 passing) to just six interceptions.
During Dart's first season with the Rebels in 2022, one of the issues contributing to his struggles were his back-breaking turnovers (11 interceptions). In Dart's final two seasons of college football, ball protection became a strength for the veteran as he matched his interception total from his first year alone in 2023-2024.
Former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovesky doesn't believe Dart is the best prospect in this year's draft. But he does believe Dart is a sure-fire first round selection this April.
Orlovesky even messaged head coach Lane Kiffin to try to get his input on his previous star quarterback.
"I think that third quarterback is more than likely going to be Jaxson Dart. I don't think Jaxson Dart gets out of the first round. I watched Jaxson Dart's tape and I go 'what am I missing?'. I actually DMed Lane Kiffin — he hasn't got back to me — but I said 'what am I missing about Jaxson Dart?' because I think runner and athlete-wise, he reminds me a little bit of Jalen Hurts. He made some throws on tape where you're like 'this is big time football'.
"The hesitation that you have is that there's two games late against — one I think against Kentucky and one against Florida where he makes two or three decisions with the football where you're like 'dude, what are you doing?'. I don't love that, but those are conversations you have to have throughout the process with these guys. I'm a fan of Jaxson Dart, I don't think he gets out of the first round. I don't think he gets to the Pittsburgh Steelers at number 21 (overall). He's unbelievable in the Georgia game and he throws the ball downfield as well as any quarterback in this draft. He's super confident with what he's looking at," Orlovesky said of Dart Wednesday on ESPN.
The Ole Miss Pro Day is set for Friday, March 28. The 2025 NFL Draft is set for April 24-26 and will be held in Green Bay, Wisconsin at Lambeau Field.