We are getting closer to the college football season, with Ole Miss facing Furman in week one on August 31. If everything goes as planned, the Rebels’ offense will be among the best in the nation by 2024.
With the college football season less than a month away, it’s chatter season. We saw this all week at SEC Media Days. With more to come.
Ole Miss is one of the most talked-about teams. Lane Kiffin would describe the majority of that as ‘rat poison.’ Perhaps he will say the same after reading these three bold predictions for the Rebels’ offense. Let’s be honest: he probably isn’t reading them.
1. Jaxson Dart to pass Eli Manning as program leader in passing yards
Everything points to the Ole Miss offensive being explosive in 2024, particularly in the passing game. Quarterback Jaxson Dart demonstrated his abilities last season, throwing for more over 350 yards in three games.
Dart, who is entering his fourth and final season at Ole Miss before declaring for the NFL Draft, has 6,338 throwing yards in the last two seasons. He is now ranked fifth, and unless something prevents him from taking the field, he will finish ahead of Chad Kelly and Matt Corral. Could he go one step farther and become No. 1 when the 2024 season is over?
Dart needs 3,782 passing yards to break the great Eli Manning’s record of 10,199 yards. If he can get 418 yards over the 2023 season, he will take the top slot, and few would bet against him.
2. Four wide receivers have over 600 receiving yards on the season
Last season, Ole Miss saw three wide receivers surpass 700 yards: Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, and the now-departed Dayton Wade. Can they have four separate receivers pass for over 600 yards this season?
Lane Kiffin, head coach, discussed how to keep a stacked room of pass catchers happy while also sharing productivity. If Deion Smith arrives on school before the season begins, the Rebels will have four outstanding pass catchers with the remainder ranked beneath them on the depth chart.
Tre Harris, Antwane Wells, and Jordan Watkins should easily pass 600 receiving yards if they stay healthy. Deion Smith has the ability to do the same. This might happen if this passing attack takes off and Jaxson Dart has another season with 3,000 or more passing yards.
3. Offensive line to allow 15 sacks or fewer
Only 16 college football teams allowed 15 or fewer sacks in the 2023 season. Only one SEC team, Georgia, was included in that exclusive group, which allowed 13. This demonstrates how difficult it is to protect your quarterback in the SEC.
Last season, the Ole Miss offensive line allowed 27, placing them 76th in the country. Despite some inadequate protection, the Rebels experienced numerous injuries, with offensive lineman playing out of position.
Lane Kiffin and offensive line coach John Garrison bolstered the team through the transfer portal in 2024. Diego Pounds, Nate Kalepo, Julius Buelow, and Gerquan Scott were all hauled in, each weighing more over 300 pounds. Nick Saban stated during SEC Media Days that Ole Miss can compete with the best in the trenches.
The Rebels have far more depth behind their new players. It would be a huge surprise if Ole Miss allowed the same number of sacks in 2024 as it did in 2023. Twenty or less would be ideal, and less than 15 would help this team reach its objectives.
