Can Jaxson Dart bring home college football’s highest honor?

Jaxson Dart throws a ball against Vanderbilt in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Oct. 28, 2023. Photo by Lucy Sprinkle.

Returning for what could be his best year yet, Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart is looking to lead the Rebels to another unforgettable season and land a spot in the 12-team playoffs.

Depending on Dart’s performance, fans and college football attendees can also look forward to the possibility of him being pinned as a Heisman candidate.

The Heisman Trophy is awarded to the most outstanding college football player, announced at a ceremony at the Lincoln Center in New York. The four finalists for the award are announced prior to the ceremony.

No Ole Miss player has ever received this award, but some have been recognized in the final four.

Charlie Conerly was the first Rebel to be included in the finalists in 1947, but ultimately finished fourth in final votes. Other Ole Miss finalists include Jake Gibbs in 1960, Archie Manning back to back in 1969 and 1970 and Eli Manning in 2003.

As Dart’s name gains traction in the college football scene, he has the opportunity to become Ole Miss’s first Heisman Trophy winner in what could be his fourth and final season with the Rebels — if his performance lives up to the hype.

After former quarterback Matt Corral entered his name in the 2022 NFL Draft, it was clear that Dart had big shoes to fill. He has been Ole Miss Head Coach Lane Kiffin’s go-to guy for big plays and acted as a strong leader for the team.

Last season, Dart finished the year with 3,364 passing yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions, also putting up another eight touchdowns on the ground.

According to DraftKings, at +1400, Dart has the fourth highest odds to win the Heisman. He is tied with Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and behind Texas’ Quinn Ewers (+1000), Georgia’s Carson Beck (+800) and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel (+750).

Last year’s winner, LSU’s Jayden Daniels, had +1100 odds to win the prestigious award entering last season.

Dart helped lead the Rebels to their first 11-win season in program history, pairing well with a NY6 Peach Bowl victory over Penn State to cap off the historic season for Ole Miss.

Dart will make his senior season debut for the Rebels on Aug. 31, when Ole Miss will host Furman to kickoff the 2024 season.

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