It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally Austin Simmons’ time to shine. And the dual-sport star’s been waiting like a kid in line for his first roller coaster. But before we get to the fun part, let’s rewind for a hot second. The Ole Miss Rebels spring practice just kicked off, and Simmons is repping QB1. Yep, the kid who has been shadowing Jaxson Dart for two whole seasons is now stepping into the spotlight. And, oh, he’s got something to say about playing second fiddle after Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin clears his stance on his QB’s future.

You see, Jaxson Dart isn’t just some guy you chill behind and grab pointers from. Nah, he’s a certified QB who won 28 games in three years, bagged back-to-back double-digit win seasons, and had the Rebels fans screaming his name like he was some kind of football rockstar. So, was Simmons soaking all that in from the sidelines? Yeah, that’s no small thing. Austin Simmons finally clears his feelings on being Jaxson Dart’s benchwarmer for two years: “That’s helped me grow a lot… Seeing how Dart played in front of me visually, and I have to these things in the future,” Simmons said. “You know you’ll be in these situations, and it prepares me physically and mentally to know what to expect… I knew these were the situations I would be in during the future.”

Simmons is real about it. Kid’s not salty. He’s not out here throwing shade or acting like the world owes him something. He’s grateful. Straight up, he’s like, ‘Watching Dart ball out like that was my crash course. And now? Now I’m ready to roll.’

What’s wild is Simmons hit the Ole Miss campus at just 17. He jumped two classifications to get there in 2023. And if that wasn’t enough pressure, he was double-dipping between football and baseball. He was slinging footballs and firing baseballs until a UCL elbow injury in 2024 shut down his baseball dreams. But that just meant all his energy got redirected to football, to the Manning Center, where he’s been putting in work like a man possessed.

And he’s not just about the Xs and Os. It’s about culture. Chemistry. The whole vibe of the locker room. “I took some bits and pieces from Jaxson in the past, and relationships are a key factor to a football team and trust everyone on the team and everyone has your back,” Simmons said. “As far as trusting your receivers to make a 50/50 ball, you also need to make that relationship off the field and know he’s a great guy on the field and even better off the field.”

Now, let’s be clear, Simmons ain’t some rookie getting thrown to the wolves. He’s got some experience. He red-shirted in 2023, and last season, he balled out in nine games, completing 19-of-32 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks. The kicker? That sweet 154.0 quarterback rating. Oh, and let’s not forget the Georgia game, where he stepped in cold after Dart went off-field, hit 5-of-6 passes for 64 yards, and led a touchdown drive like it was nothing. Kid’s got ice in his veins. FanDuel Sportsbook is feeling the hype, too. They got Simmons chilling with the 15th-best Heisman Trophy odds right now. Not bad for a QB who spent most of his college career watching from the sidelines.

Lane Kiffin’s big advice for Ole Miss’ New QB1

With Jaxson Dart off to the NFL, it’s Simmons’ show now. But being QB1 at Ole Miss ain’t just about throwing bombs and dodging blitzes. Nah, Simmons knows he’s gotta lead, and that means stepping out of his comfort zone and getting loud. “I’ve never really been a verbal-type leader,” he admitted. “I’m really trying to progress in that and become better in that field.”

And Coach Kiffin kept it real about Simmons’ future, giving him the real talk: “I think (Simmons) has done a really good job spending time with players. He’s always out trying to throw extra with them. (Austin Simmons) He’s got a hard act to follow. He doesn’t need to be Jaxson. Everybody is different. But that was a really good one for him to learn from.”

It’s evident that Coach Kiffin’s all board on with Simmons in 2025. Look, Kiffin’s not asking him to be Jaxson Dart 2.0. That ain’t the assignment. Simmons just needs to be himself. The best version of himself. And he’s already showing signs of doing just that. With new faces like De’Zhaun Stribling, Harrison Wallace, Deuce Alexander, and Caleb Odom in the mix, Simmons’ biggest task now is getting that chemistry cooking.

“I love everything about this team,” Simmons said. “We’re still getting to learn each other. Still building chemistry around each other. Right now we’re in that building phase to be a great team.” Sounds like Simmons is ready to make his own mark. Whether he’ll be the next big thing at Ole Miss or just another name in the books?