The Ole Miss Rebels seek to maintain their momentum as they prepare for a potentially remarkable season.
Charlie Weis Jr. has everything in place to lead Ole Miss’ offense to the top of the rankings.
Heisman-worthy quarterback? Check.
A duo of great receivers who could challenge for All-American honors? Check.
A better offensive line that will keep Jaxson Dart upright? Check that box, too.
So, what’s the message for the third-year offensive coordinator as fall camp nears its halfway point? Simple: stay the course.
“The biggest thing for us is just focusing on the process rather than the outcome,” Weis told me. “Every drill every rep, it’s not about the outcome of the rep; it’s about ‘did we protect this the way we were supposed to’ or ‘were the receivers running the routes they were meant to?’ Did they run with the details? Did the quarterback go through the progression correctly?
“We want to perform at our peak before the season begins. It’s the same process every day.”
Dart, who led the Rebels to 11 wins last season, including a Peach Bowl triumph over Penn State, is now perfecting the offensive identity. Two years ago, he was looking to learn the basics.
Dart has little left to learn. Now it’s time to embrace the strain and hone the elements.
“It’s just that growth and evolution of even more understanding what we’re trying to do, being able to see the whole picture, be calm and focused in those moments in tempo,” Weis said of Dart’s career.
The quarterback cannot do it alone. Last season, Dart leaned heavily on Tre Harris, Caden Prieskorn, and Quinshon Judkins to drive downfield and keep the momentum going. Two of the three will return, while Judkins embarks on a new venture at Ohio State.
The Rebels should be satisfied with their ground game after signing Henry Parrish Jr. (Miami) and Radhad Amos (Miami [Ohio]) via the transfer portal. Ole Miss also brings back Ulysses Bentley for one final time in Oxford.
“It will be a little different this year,” Weis said of the unit. “We’re very excited about our running back room, which includes a variety of players with diverse skill sets. Whether it’s the ability to hit home runs, pass, or do a variety of things.”
The Rebels open the regular season at home against FCS Furman on August 31 at 6 p.m. The game will air on SEC Network.
