It was all ‘Come to the Sip’ before hopping on the cruise ship for Lane Kiffin. The highlight of the day? Sip’s dart thrower’s final college pass—a jaw-dropping 69-yard touchdown that had Lane Kiffin fired up on the sideline. It’s part of his coaching brilliance, part stand-up routine, and part relentless enthusiasm. In Thursday’s Gator Bowl, that trifecta was on full display as the Ole Miss Rebels dismantled Duke 52-20, and the way he did that has already kicked off the next phase of his career. The fun guy and his HC are all in for it.

Although, this time, not as his coach but rather like a true hypeman. It started subtly, as these things often do with Lane Kiffin. When pressed by ESPN’s Taylor McGregor about his QB1’s Eli Manning college record-breaking season, he teased, “You never know. Maybe he’ll file a waiver and come back another year.” McGregor pushed, asking if Kiffin was serious. His response? A smirk and a cheeky “Maybe.”

It was classic Kiffin—equal parts deflection and drama, ensuring all eyes stayed on his quarterback. But as the game progressed, Kiffin shifted from playful to promotional, essentially handing Dart the megaphone for his NFL audition. Now, after a post from analyst Travis May on X highlighting #2’s performance, “Jaxson Dart just completely destroying Duke’s Top 15 defense. Meaningful metrics suggest he should be QB1, QB2 at worst in this class. Hope he continues to rise in #NFLDraft season. He deserves it.” He’s back with another one.

Kiffin responded simply, “@NFL,” tagging the NFL with a wink to every team in need of a franchise quarterback: “Here’s your guy.” In a world where coaches often tread carefully around player promotions, Kiffin’s unabashed support felt refreshingly genuine. Everyone does, in fact, need a Lane Kiffin in their life.

Truly, Jaxson Dart didn’t disappoint. The senior capped a record-setting year with an exclamation point, torching Duke’s Top 15 defense for where he connected seven times with Jordan Watkins for 180 yards with passing yards and two touchdowns. The night’s most electric moment came with 1:27 left—a 69-yard bomb that turned heads—and raised eyebrows on the sideline. “I love him except for the last play,” Kiffin said with a grin. “He checks to a pass play he’s not supposed to do. He’s got to learn a little better class there.” The coach’s mock frustration couldn’t hide his pride. Dart’s instincts, even when they veer off-script, are what make him special.

It’s a spotlight moment for a player who has often flown under the national radar. Yet, even as Dart dazzled, Pro Football Focus ranked him as the 14th quarterback prospect for 2025, projecting him as a seventh-round pick. That feels like an oversight for a quarterback who blends arm talent with toughness, mobility, and leadership. Thursday’s performance, complete with grass-stained jerseys and sideline banter, may well force a reassessment.

Several NFL-types weighed in on Dart as the Gator Bowl was unfolding. There’s something poetic about Dart’s final college pass being both a rule-breaking decision and a game-defining moment. It encapsulates everything that makes him special—confidence, creativity, and a little bit of chaos.

What Lane Kiffin’s ‘NFL tagging’ did for Jaxson Dart

He had the scouts already on notice, and Lane Kiffin’s comment just helped the cause even more. Jaxson Dart slayed the Blue Devils in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, completing an eye-popping 27-of-35 passes for 404 yards and four touchdowns. It wasn’t just a game; it was a declaration that Dart was ready for the next chapter: the NFL.

Dart has officially declared for the NFL Draft, and his timing couldn’t be better. In a quarterback class that’s seen as thin on elite talent, Dart’s stock is rising fast among scouts and decision-makers. One NFL scout, speaking to Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports NFL, had glowing praise for the Ole Miss gunslinger: “He’s gonna be a major steal in the draft. Throws the ba-l down the field as well as anyone, which I realize is kinda this lost skill in today’s game, but that’s what makes him interesting. Get Dart a couple speed guys, and he can really hurt you.”

Dart’s ability to air it out with precision and confidence feels almost old-school in today’s short-pass-heavy NFL. And with Kiffin’s campaign to boost Dart’s draft stock, it’s clear the NFL will be watching. After all, who wouldn’t want a quarterback whose coach believes in him enough to pitch him directly to the league?