Well, Lane Kiffin’s walking a tightrope in 2025. We all know Ole Miss thrived under his watch since 2021, either stacking 10 back-to-back winning seasons or riding Jaxson Dart’s arm like a golden ticket. But 2024? Was also a gut punch. After Kentucky, LSU, and Florida’s loss slammed the playoff door shut against the Rebels’ face. Now, Dart’s off to the NFL, and all eyes turn to Austin Simmons. Can Kiffin mold him into a star, or will the Rebels stumble in transition? And the bigger question is, does Austin Simmons have what it takes to replace Jaxson Dart?

Enters Greg McElroy with his assessment on Lane Kiffin’s future star QB Austin Simmons, comparing him with Jaxson Dart, saying, “I know that Jaxson Dart had great comfort within the system. He had great personnel around him. But man, I’ve seen Jaxson Dart throw in person. I’ve seen it come off his hand. It’s really impressive. He does a great job. He’s a great player. But I’ve seen it come out of Austin Simmons’ hand as well, and man, it’s different. You know, you can just tell—that’s different.”  Well, McElroy is not wrong when he says Dart’s throwing skills are impressive.

This guy throws the third-most accurate deep ball in the class, behind just Shedeur Sanders, who has the highest. Remember his game against Duke? Where Jaxson Dart passed for 404 yards and four touchdowns and no turnovers. And if we look at his year with Ole Miss, he passed for 4,279 yards and 32 TDs and just six interceptions. That’s the reason Rebels thrived last season. But even Austin Simmons is no less of a player, as Greg McElroy thinks even he has the potential to make such developments in the future.

As he says, “Now, Jaxson Dart—we know what he was as a college football player. We know how, now that the draft process is going on, teams are kind of falling in love with what Jaxson Dart was able to do. Understandable. I get it. I understand that. But I also look too, and that’s what Austin Simmons is.”  Now, talking about his gameplay against Georgia, when Dart was out due to an injury. What stands out for Greg is he talks about his arm strength as he says, “He’s 6’4″, 215 lbs. He’s a perfect fit for the system, and I’ve had coaches tell me he is as talented a guy as they’ve seen throwing the football in a little while. He’s that good—very, very capable arm.”

Look, even though Austin Simmons’ actions were limited, his performance against Georgia, which included a 10-play, 75-yard drive for a touchdown and tie, was impressive. That’s more than enough to explain why Lane Kiffin trusts him as a starter this season. And even Greg McElroy is betting on his skills, saying, “But I’m talking just flat-out how the ball comes off his hand—there’s a lot to like about what this young man might do in Lane Kiffin’s system.”  But let’s not forget that Austin needs a strong system to thrive in, and that looks pretty shaky for now.

Doubts swirling around Lane Kiffin’s Rebels future

Ole Miss might have their quarterback situation sorted out, but there are concerns brewing on the defensive side of the ball. Last season, their defense was a standout, ranking second nationally in scoring defense. This was largely due to the outstanding performances of key players such as Walter Nolen, Princely Umanmielen, JJ Pegues, and Pooh Paul.

These playmakers wreaked havoc on opposing offenses, limiting them to a mere 80.46 rushing yards per game at a stingy 2.2 yards per carry. Their pass rush was just as effective, recording 52 sacks, which ranked third in the nation. However, with some key players no longer on the team, the focus now shifts from what they achieved to whether they can replicate their success.

But here is where the problem comes. As Greg McElroy highlights, saying, “They’re going to be without Princely Umanmielen, who was a great presence there off the edge. They’re going to be without Walter Nolen, who was excellent—always had to account for him on the interior.”  Now we know how important Princely and Walter’s presence is for Ole Miss. But both of them are turning pro this year, which leaves a big hole in their defense.

However, the Rebels were not idle—they enlisted reinforcements. Princewill Umanmielen (Princely’s younger brother) and Da’Shawn Womack strengthen the edge, with Jaden Yates providing depth at linebacker. The real question is whether they can replicate the success of Princely and Walter from last season. While the talent is present, matching elite production is no simple task. Ole Miss excelled in the front line in 2024—now, it’s up to these new players to maintain the high standard.