OXFORD – Ole Miss offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. wants redshirt sophomore quarterback Austin Simmons to simply be himself.
Weis is in his fourth season as Ole Miss’ offensive coordinator. The Rebels have averaged 35.7 points per game over the previous three seasons, each with quarterback Jaxson Dart under center. Ole Miss averaged 38.6 points per game in 2024 – good for third nationally – and Dart led the nation in total offense and passing efficiency while earning first-team All-SEC honors. Dart was drafted in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, and the Rebels return just two full-time starters from last year’s offense in junior wide receiver Cayden Lee and senior tackle Diego Pounds.
Simmons, who has yet to start a game but led a touchdown drive against No. 3 Georgia last season, will take over for Dart. Simmons completed 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Dart last season.
Weis told reporters Thursday that Simmons was “further ahead” than Dart was before his first season as the Rebels’ starter in 2022 because Simmons has been in the system for several years compared to Dart, who had just one offseason after transferring from USC.
In addition to tinkering with things on the field, one of the points of emphasis in the offseason for Simmons was finding his leadership role.
“You’re replacing a guy with Jaxson who was an alpha-type guy who had the locker room and had a certain personality about him,” Weis said. “… He doesn’t need to be Jaxson Dart. He doesn’t need to be Matt Corral. He can be Austin, and he can be exactly who he is. And it’s been really cool seeing his transition over time and how he’s handled that.”
In addition to breaking in a new quarterback, the Rebels will also try to straighten out a running game that scuffled for much of last season. Ole Miss averaged 175.7 rushing yards per game in 2024, the lowest total under Kiffin. No player had more than 680 rushing yards a season ago, and Dart was the team’s second-leading rusher with 495 yards. Defensive tackle JJ Pegues was used as the team’s short-yardage back and finished with seven rushing touchdowns, good for second on the team.
Sophomore Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy, senior Troy transfer Damien Taylor and senior Logan Diggs are expected to the get the bulk of the carries this season.
“I think it’s a good group of guys with some different skillsets,” Weis said. “Kewan Lacy has a little bit more of that home run threat that we certainly need, that we’ve had in the past, but I think he’ll be able to replicate that for us. And then Logan and D.T. are very powerful runners, they’re very disciplined runners … When you’re an explosive offense and you’re trying to push the ball down the field, when you run the ball you obviously want it to be efficient and effective, and all three of those guys do a good job of that.”
Weis also said rotating in more skill position players was a point of emphasis in the offseason. Deeper running back and wide receiver rooms allow for more players to see action without sacrificing quality on the field.
“That’s definitely been a big emphasis for us,” Weis said. “ … We need to be deeper as the season progresses and have more guys available and continuing to fight for every guy that we could get on the roster. … We’re able to have a couple guys banged up in practice and the next guys go in, and it doesn’t feel like a major dropoff.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 34 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
