Georgia vs Ole Miss: Ole Miss ended up dominating Georgia 28-10 in what turned out to be a one-sided showdown against Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs, but the game had a rocky start for the Rebels. Early on, Jaxson Dart took a sack and then suffered an injury on the very next play, throwing an interception to Dan Jackson. Ole Miss suddenly looked desperate for a spark—and they got one immediately.
Georgia vs. Ole Miss highlights: Catch up on all the big moments from the Rebels’ upset: Enter true freshman quarterback Austin Simmons, who stepped up and led Ole Miss on a crucial 10-play scoring drive. Though Dart returned to action shortly after, Simmons’ contribution left an indelible mark on the game and perhaps the program’s future.
After the game, Lane Kiffin and Simmons’ Ole Miss teammates couldn’t say enough about the young quarterback’s composure and readiness. They were confident in him even before he was called up, but now they’re thrilled with the future he brings to Ole Miss.
Kiffin’s trust in Simmons was apparent right away. On Simmons’ first snap, he completed an 11-yard pass to Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. Simmons went on to complete five of six passes for 64 yards on the drive, capped by a nine-yard touchdown run from Ulysses Bentley IV to tie the game.
Georgia vs Ole Miss: It’s rare for a head coach to put so much faith in a freshman quarterback, particularly one young enough to still be in high school. For those who aren’t aware, Simmons reclassified two years ahead of his recruiting class to join Ole Miss in 2023, graduating high school early with a GPA over 4.0. A multi-sport standout with the physical maturity to step into college football, Simmons has already made an impression that Lane Kiffin believes in.
The praise for Simmons wasn’t limited to his coach—his teammates were already aware of his potential, and Simmons has flashed that talent before. Just last week against Arkansas, he completed all three of his passes for 47 yards and a touchdown after the game was already decided.
With Jaxson Dart continuing his impressive season, perhaps heading toward a Heisman campaign and a first-round NFL draft selection, Ole Miss looks secure at quarterback for the present—and incredibly promising for the future. As good as Dart is, Simmons might just be the one to raise the bar even higher when it’s his turn to lead the Rebels. Story from sportskeeda
