The NFL Combine is over. While the top QB prospects, Cam Ward (Miami) and Sheduer Sanders (Colorado), held out from competing, several others took a chance. It could go only either way. Either the plan backfired, or it increased their stock. Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart decided to take the gamble. And it paid well for him. He looked fit, athletic, and sharp, impressing the NFL analysts with his performance. And they are now making a bold prediction.

First, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe claimed that two NFL teams certainly praised the Ole Miss quarterback. They even predicted that he could be drafted in the first half of the opening draft round. The 6 feet 2 inches and 223 pounds signal caller boasts of a 30 inch arm length with 9.5 inches hand span. That’s impressive. Even CBS Sports rated him 3rd in the top QB prospects.

That would be certainly challenging for Cam Ward and Sheduer Sanders. They still are the top prospects. But the teams might not give them the dues they want. In terms of passing yards, Dart (4,279) had less than Ward (4,313) but more than Sanders (4,134). While he had fewer TDs (29) than both Ward (39) and Sanders (37), he had a greater rating (180.7). Other analysts had a favorable analysis of Jaxson Dart.

His performance improved over the 3 seasons with Ole Miss. In 2024, he led the SEC with a 69.3% completion rate in 4,729 passing yards with 29 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. During his dominance, he broke the NFL legend, Eli Manning’s record as well. In his 4 years college stint, the Super Bowl winner had 10,199 passing yards. But Jaxson Dart cruised past him with 10,617 passing yards in 3 seasons. That’s an impressive feat.

His performance forced ESPN’s Field Yates to shower a whole-hearted praise on the college player. During a recent episode of ESPN’s SportsCenter, while revealing his mock draft results, he said, “He’s got a ton of experience. He’s an outstanding athlete, he can throw on the run as well. That being said, when you combine the athleticism and the accuracy, I do think there’s a chance that by the time it’s all said and done, he sneaks into the first round. I had him going 21st overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers in my most recent mock draft.” That’s some high praise right there.

Amid all these developments, the Ole Miss QB also revealed his favorites in the league. It might surprise many.

Jaxson Dart names his favorite NFL signal caller

The quarterback appeared on a recent episode of Pro Football Talk, where he talked about the draft. When asked about comparing his style to a league QB, he surprised everyone by naming the Eagles QB and Super Bowl winner Jalen Hurts. He said, “I think it’s a little bit of a cop-out because he just won the Super Bowl, but I love J Hurts and what he does. I feel like I’m very similar in my play style to him. I feel like we can do a lot of the same things,” fanboying the Eagles’ QB.

While talking about the similar qualities, Jaxson Dart named versatility. It stood out on 2 qualities: being able to run and throw the ball, and being strong in the pocket. That was pretty evident in their game. In 3 seasons with Ole Miss, he had 1,500 rushing yards with 12 TDs.

Jalen Hurts is a step above the college quarterback. In the 2024 season, he recorded 630 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns, along with 2,903 passing yards and 18 touchdowns. He added, “Obviously, he’s an elite player, and I’m trying to reach that level,” acknowledging the difference.

With college QBs challenging each other, the league is preparing for the fresh energy. And when it comes to the most important position, the excitement reaches a whole other level. The fans are excited.