Ole Miss Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart has quickly risen on many NFL Draft boards following an impressive senior campaign. How does he measure up in what many consider an underwhelming quarterback class compared to years past?
Jaxson Dart Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’2”
- Weight: 220 pounds
- Position: Quarterback
- School: Mississippi
- Current Year: Senior
Dart’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Experience: In one year at USC and three years in Oxford, Mississippi, Dart has played in 45 games, starting 41.
- Smooth operator. Often poised and composed.
- Throws with great touch.
- Maestro in the quick game. Lethal when playing in rhythm.
- Natural and punishing runner with a frame that can withstand his physical running style.
- Comfortable and dangerous on designed runs.
- Strong base.
- Very accurate when throwing with a good base in the short and intermediate range.
- Very comfortable operating in the pocket, and even more dangerous when operating outside.
- Legs are a real threat. Fearless runner.
- Tough and gritty play style. More than willing to stand in the face of pressure and deliver a strike. Competitor.
Weaknesses
- Arm strength may ultimately be a question. Has the ability to throw the ball on a rope but is consistently inaccurate with the deep ball unless circumstances are near perfect.
- Doesn’t demonstrate having the arm strength to overcompensate for an off-set base.
Keeps his base strong but narrow. Doesn’t seem to fully engage his body to increase his power in throws. I would be willing to bet that he has more in the tank; it just needs to be unlocked. - Uncomfortable when first read isn’t there. May struggle working through progressions, also doesn’t appear to frequently have to work through progressions. One-read style of offense.
- Eyes may be in the right place, but hips and feet don’t get around quick leading to wide throws.
- Would love to see follow-through on fakes in the RPO game. His legs are a real threat.
- Carrying out the fake has the potential to pull 1-2 defenders with him for an extra second, freeing up the ball carrier and aiding the blocking scheme. Instantly becomes a spectator after a give.
- Too easy to defend.
- Don’t know what he was taught, but he is rarely a player who takes a true drop. He will take 2-3 step drop and rather than a true hitch, he hops and/or has happy feet until it’s time to throw.
- Can and does throw with anticipation, but there are plenty of instances where he wants to see the receiver open before uncorking it — leads to picks (EX: 11:10 4Q @ LSU).
- Drops tall and relaxed. Isn’t ready to throw in an instant. Has to sink hips and set feet to get the ball out rather than just throwing down the back foot.
- Low and tight release — quick and efficient, but release point makes his throws more susceptible to knockdowns.
- Played in a hurry-up offense. The average snap time was nearly 22 seconds. This offense minimizes pre-snap reads, often minimizing it to a one-man read because quarterback has limited time pre-snap to get a full and clear picture of the defense. This may be part of the reason Dart often looks unsettled if the first read isn’t there. Not saying he can’t do it, but doesn’t appear that he was asked to.
- All checks seem to come from the sideline “check with me” style of offense.
Summary and Draft Projection
In his final season with the Rebels, Dart finished with career highs in each significant category, including completion percentage, yards, touchdowns, and QBR, while only accounting for five interceptions.
With 41 starts over four years, the 21-year-old is a seasoned prospect. Dart is a smooth operator and a gritty competitor with little moxie. His dual-threat ability stretches the defense thin and keeps them honest in the RPO game, which is what he does best.
Dart can deliver an accurate ball with touch at all levels of the field and is not afraid to stick in the pocket and deliver a throw in the face of pressure or lower his shoulder in the open field to pick up a few extra yards.
Dart, however, is nothing close to being the perfect prospect. He needs to improve his deep-ball accuracy, arm strength, and refine his mechanics, marrying his eyes, hips, and feet.
I believe Dart has the physical ability to be a quality NFL quarterback. It shows on tape. However, the mental processing, decision-making, and communication required of a quarterback in an NFL offense is not something we’ve seen him do.
Dart’s offense at Ole Miss was predicated on speed and efficiency, running a play every 22 seconds on average. This tempo minimizes responsibility for the QB, eliminates their ability to take a detailed pre-snap scan of the defense, and gives him tunnel vision towards his read key.
The offensive system utilizes one-word and quick-signal play calls to decrease complexity and increase the tempo. Not having to process information in bulk allows players to line up quickly and play fast and free. Most of the checks in this offense come from the coaching staff on the sideline, not requiring the quarterback to ensure that they’re in the right play.
The system takes a lot of responsibility off of the quarterback’s plate. It’s not to say that Dart isn’t capable of communicating, understanding, processing, and executing wordy play calls, adjusting protection, checking out of a bad play, and quickly working through multiple progressions.
It does mean, however, that he doesn’t have four years of experience operating in a system that requires him to do so. All of which he will have to handle at the next level, thus making the already monumental jump to the NFL that much more difficult.
Dart would be best served to land in an organization where he can sit behind an established starter for a year or two. He has the necessary tools and pedigree to have success in this league, but the transition is likely a lofty hurdle.
Dart’s positional value, combined with a relatively thin and underwhelming quarterback class, will likely push him higher than his performance grade might typically place him. In most years, Dart would likely be a third- or early fourth-round pick, but with the supply and demand at the quarterback position in 2025, there’s a legitimate case for him to be a dark horse who could find his way into the first or early second round.
