The Ole Miss Rebels seem to have their quarterback plans for 2025 in place, provided Austin Simmons stays healthy following Jaxson Dart’s exit. Simmons led Ole Miss’ initial scoring drive last month against Georgia after Dart was injured, showcasing his athleticism and powerful arm, which gives fans a glimpse of their future quarterback.
Therefore, it may not be significant that the Rebels did not recruit a quarterback in their 2025 high school class, although head coach Lane Kiffin explains there were additional considerations in making this choice. He pointed out that not all players align with his program’s financial strategies in the current NIL landscape and upcoming revenue sharing. “I think we’re kind of new-age in analytics and salary cap and roster management,” Kiffin stated on Wednesday. “Many still adhere to the old model: ‘We need to sign this many players at these positions regardless of cost.’ I’ve been cautioning for two years that we must be wary of this regarding high school quarterbacks.”
He noted that sometimes they lose interest in a player if the cost becomes excessive, as this is now a fundamental aspect of recruiting. Kiffin is cautious about allocating high funds for a high school quarterback because of the current trend of top-tier players entering the transfer portal if they don’t see immediate playtime. It’s more sensible financially to distribute those resources across the entire roster.
“When you invest heavily in that position, it becomes a transfer-heavy area that typically doesn’t see first-year players contributing,” Kiffin remarked. “Nationwide, you’ll witness many high-priced recruits from last year entering the portal. They wasted money.”
There remains the option of the transfer portal to enhance their quarterback lineup, and, as indicated, the Rebels seem optimistic about Austin Simmons leading their offense in the future. Altogether, these elements should ease any worries Ole Miss fans have regarding their quarterback situation after Dart, at least for now.
