Ole Miss Football: Jaxson Dart will be a legit Heisman candidate in 2022

Lane Kiffin reached into the portal and landed USC transfer Jaxson Dart. In this Ole Miss football offense, he’ll be a Heisman candidate in 2022.

When Jaxson Dart committed to USC, he knew he would have to wait his turn to start with Kedon Slovis still on campus and under center. Even with Slovis transferring to Pitt following a coaching change, however, the former top-100 recruit decided it was in his best interest to look for a new home.

Dart decided to transfer to a program that wasn’t actively trying to land Caleb Williams in the transfer portal and he picked Ole Miss.

Lane Kiffin is proving to be one of the best portal recruiters in college football, and he’s well aware of that distinction. He might even go as far as saying he’s the “portal king”.

This man is just undefeated on Twitter. And in the portal as Dart was a heck of a recruiting win and with Matt Corral gone, it was a need for the Rebels — especially after watching the Sugar Bowl.

Not only is Dart a capable starter who 1,353 yards and nine touchdowns with a 62 percent completion rate as a true freshman for USC, but he’s also an elite talent. He could legitimately be a Heisman Trophy candidate in his first year with Ole Miss because that Kiffin-led offense is going to set him up for success like it did for Corral.

Corral became an elite quarterback under Kiffin after being misused by Matt Luke and I could see Dart growing in that same fashion under his new head coach.

Kiffin went after Dart because he liked the fit in his offense and he believes he’s going to contend for the starting job — and likely win it — right away. He has a strong, accurate arm and he can elude pass-rushers with his athleticism. He’s going to fit right in with this offense and he’ll be surrounded by a multitude of pieces — including USC tight end transfer Michael Trigg.

Don’t be shocked when Dart is on Heisman lists next season after a heck of a start to his Ole Miss career.