Austin Simmons. Lefty. Drippy. The 19-year-old phenom who should be checking tux sizes for prom is instead out here dissecting SEC defenses like a ten-year vet. Lane Kiffin has seen a lot of arm talent over the years, but this? This is different. Austin Simmons didn’t just skip a grade—he skipped two. And while most teens are still trying to parallel park, he’s running Kiffin’s playbook with ice in his veins. ESPN’s Pete Thamel was nearly giddy on the College GameDay Podcast, telling Rece Davis and Bill Connelly, “I am very interested in the Ole Miss Rebels. I am very interested in Austin Simmons, a lefty who is just dripping with talent. He’s the first in my memory… early, early enrollee, right? He went two classes early. And talented baseball player as well, though he’s given that up.” That’s not hype—that’s straight awe.
Simmons has become the spring story in Oxford, a quiet storm with a cannon for a left arm and a poise that feels manufactured in a lab. “Every spring there’s a darling, a buzz guy, somebody that’s blown everybody away, and Austin Simmons, the Ole Miss quarterback who’s projected to start, is that guy,” Thamel added. And sure, it’s spring—every team’s undefeated, and every backup is the next Heisman. But insiders around the SEC aren’t just whispering Simmons’ name—they’re comparing it. And the name he’s being measured against? The NFL-bound Jaxson Dart.
According to That SEC Podcast, the confidence inside the building is loud and clear. SEC Mike said, “I have heard that there were quarterbacks interested in Ole Miss this offseason, and Kiffin and company shut that down and said, ‘No, we’re all ahead on Austin Simmons. We love this guy.’” That’s not just trust—that’s tunnel vision. The insider continued, “There has even been some chatter that they’ve been telling people that Austin Simmons will be better than Jaxson Dart. I don’t think they meant, again, immediately, but I think they meant ceiling-wise and all that.” It’s a bold statement considering Dart’s 2023 form, but the staff isn’t dreaming in hypotheticals—they’re projecting real returns.
Steven Lassan added to the thoughts, “I think it’s [ceiling] pretty high. I think it’s asking a lot for him to be better than Jaxson Dart last year—maybe even 2023 Jaxson Dart—but if you told me in 2026 or 2027 he was All-SEC, better career numbers than Jaxson Dart, I don’t think that would surprise me.”
What makes all this buzz legit is the early tape. Austin Simmons isn’t just a spring hero in shorts—he’s already had his trial by fire. Last fall, he dipped his toe into real SEC waters, going 19-of-32 for two touchdowns and zero picks. And the Georgia game? That was his formal intro. Jaxson Dart got dinged early, the Dawgs were barking, and Simmons just waltzed in like it was a high school scrimmage. He went 5-of-6, sparked a touchdown drive, and Ole Miss rolled 28-10. “It’s hard to not be impressed with what he did in that game against Georgia,” Lassan admitted. “Just coming in cold, high-profile spot, and just calmly delivered them down the field. You can see the tools. Like the accuracy, the arm, everything he brings to the table. So there is a ton of upside there.”
That upside isn’t just in highlight throws—it’s in the system fit. Lane Kiffin has always been a quarterback whisperer, and Simmons looks like a perfect fit for Kiffin’s tempo-heavy, read-and-rip scheme. Quick processing, off-platform delivery, and that innate ability to find soft spots in the zone—he’s got the toolbox. The only question is when it all clicks. “The question is going to be just how fast he reaches that point,” said Steven Lassan. And with the Rebels returning just four starters this season, Simmons might not have time for slow growth.
Adding to this potentially shaky ground are some straight-up words from Lane Kiffin himself. When Kiffin took the mic after Tuesday’s spring practice, it wasn’t exactly a pep rally vibe. “There’re some injuries there with some guys not practicing,” Kiffin admitted. “There’s just not a lot of numbers there, and certainly not much experience playing. It’s just something we’ll have to work through and continue to push guys. Hopefully, when these guys, a couple of guys, come back from injuries, it’ll look better.” So, the defense is looking thin, and the overall feeling is a bit wobbly, especially with a secondary that sounds like it just went ten rounds. If this defense doesn’t tighten the screws, Simmons might have to put up video game numbers just to keep Ole Miss in the mix.
Now, the honest admission about Simmons could be fuel for an already delicate perch. Meanwhile, Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss Rebels already have a QB committed in the 2026 class.
Lane Kiffin finds his 2026 QB1 in Texas gunslinger
Lane Kiffin’s QB room of the future just got a new name—and it’s a Texas-sized one. Ole Miss officially landed its signal-caller for the 2026 recruiting class with the commitment of Rees Wise, a 6-foot-2, 218-pound QB out of Austin, Texas.
Wise, who made it official on April 14, is the starter at Westlake High School—aka Quarterback U. That’s the same program that produced Drew Brees, Sam Ehlinger, and Cade Klubnik, so yeah, they know a thing or two about grooming elite passers. According to the 247Sports Composite Rankings, Wise is a three-star prospect, ranked No. 47 among quarterbacks nationally and No. 120 overall in Texas. He’s got the tools, and the numbers to back it up too. Last season, he threw for 2,598 yards and 23 touchdowns heading into what should be a monster senior year.
Wise becomes the first quarterback to join Ole Miss’ 2026 class, which now stands at five commits. He links up with running back Ja’Michael Jones, wide receiver Jameson Powell, cornerback Braylen Williams, and athlete Zion Legree. So, with Wise locked in for 2026, Kiffin’s quarterback pipeline in Oxford looks Texas-strong for years to come.
The post SEC Insider’s Clear Message on Austin Simmons as Honest Jaxson Dart Admission Adds to Ole Miss QB’s Woes appeared first on EssentiallySports.