The quarterback class at the Reese’s Senior Bowl was all about the big names in college football. Most are guys that everyone has heard their name but have draft rankings in the middle rounds. Every one of these guys wants to change that and have a terrific week as teams like the Cleveland Browns look on.
Jaxson Dart out of Ole Miss came into the game passing for 11,970 yards with 852 completions on 1,307 attempts. He had 81 touchdowns against 27 picks. He also ran 393 times for 1,541 yards and another 14 scores proving he is a good scrambler and will earn yards with his legs.
In his senior year, he won the Charley Conerly Award given to the best college football in the State of Mississippi. He was also voted First Team All-SEC and named the MVP of the Gator Bowl.
After his senior year in high school, he was the Gatorade Football Player of the Year after he passed for 4,691 yards. He was also the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
Before the Senior Bowl week, Dart had a ranking at #202. That is the fifth round. Now, some mock drafts have him going in Round 2. Whether that happens or not we will see, but the realization is that he is a player that definitely will have a huge jump in his player stock just because he came in and looked really good all three practice days.
While the second overall pick in Round 1 is not an option, Cleveland owns the first pick in Round 2 at pick #33 if the Browns are in love with Dart and also the #67 and #94 selections in Round 3.
This year’s Senior Bowl game was sold out. Dawgs By Nature’s Barry Shuck was able to talk with Dart during the practice week
Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss
6’-2”, 226 pounds
40 time: 4.85
Projected round: 2-3
Q: You have played most of your college career out of the shotgun, yet here at the Senior Bowl they have all QBs under center. Is that something you feel comfortable doing
A: Yeah, absolutely. I am playing with guys that I have never played with before and it’s just time building chemistry. I will do whatever I have to do to get it done.
Q: A lot of these running backs have taken their snaps and handoffs from the gun. How are trying to communicate that?
A: I feel we do a really good job walking through the footwork. We don’t want this to be a bunch of land mines. The backs on my roster are super talented and has been a lot of fun to watch then take off and go do explosive things.
Q: How difficult is it to acclimate to new receivers and learn a new language?
A: There is always an adjustment period anytime you get into a new system. It is not a disadvantage. It is going to clean its way out this week and I am really excited to play with these guys. These guys are awesome so its been a lot of fun playing with them.
Q: What kind of other offenses have you played in?
A: I played in the wing-T for three years. That was in a huddle every play and took a snap under center. My senior year of high school that was more spread. Went to USC my first college year and went to the Air Raid. Transferred to Ole Miss my sophomore year and got into the RPO game. Hardcore play action, deep shots, top-down reads. And from there we just progressed each year until we settled as a Tempo Pro-style team. We get in multiple different personnel groupings, do a lot of shifts, motions, play action, empty sets, one-high/two-high reads, and drop-back progression passes. There was a lot involved in our offense.
Q: Your college system under head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. isn’t the most normal NFL type, but how has your time with Lane prepared you for the NFL?
A: I think the same concepts that I am running here are the same concepts that I ran in college. Coach Kiffin coached in the NFL so he runs an NFL system and coach Weis also coached in the NFL with his dad being an offensive coordinator and winning several Super Bowls with the Giants and Patriots. It’s the same concepts just a little more wordy. I definitely matured from learning from Coach Kiffin.
Q: Plus, there is film on you, correct?
A: They’ll be able to see my film either way. My practices and work ethic this week will say quite a bit about me. But everything I need to show is on tape. It’s more getting acclimated to the NFL system. Finding my way of being uncomfortable and performing at the same time.
Q: Why is it important for you to be here at the Senior Bowl?
A: Obviously to be around great talent and great exposure. It was a no-brainer for me. It is a great environment and I had been really looking forward to it. I’m really excited to continue to learn.
Q: The Browns have high picks in every round. Browns special teams coach Bubba Ventrone is your roster’s head coach. How unique is that to showcase yourself to the Browns organization?
A: Like I said, it was a no-brainer for me. A lot of guys like me came here to be in this situation. Bubba’s been so great and it’s been awesome to be around him and his energy it has been super contagious. I can see him being a head coach one day. It’s wonderful to learn from him.
Q: As a rookie would you be satisfied with sitting a year or two, or do you have in mind you want to be the starter right away?
A: I would come in and compete. Whatever comes, whatever happens, hopefully come into a place that needs a guy who will be the starter sooner than later and contribute. I am not a person who wants to sit, although I will learn. But nobody who is competitive is satisfied with not playing.
Q: You came into this game as a Day 3 prospect and now people are saying you could go in the second or third round. How did you feel about that?
A: You try not to read into anything but when you have people with a lot of credibility it definitely a huge compliment and humbling.
Q: Do you feel that you will need to be throwing into some tighter windows at the next level?
A: I think it is just natural that at the NFL level, the windows are going to get tighter because of the competition. I think so far since I have been here at the Senior Bowl that it has gone pretty smooth and I operated things that was asked to do. That is just going to be a transition as you go from one level to another. Things are going to get harder and being an adjustment. I just have to keep working at it
Q: How is your leadership and preparation?
A: Every day you have to rally a group of guys together and hold a standard for one another. When they see it from me every day at times it will be contagious but at the same time there are days that you have to kinda push even if they don’t really love it initially. That is just part of being a leader. You got to raise the bar for everybody around you.
Q: Where do you draw your confidence from?
A: I have been in so many competitive atmospheres in all the sports that I’ve played. I have worked and prepared for the moments. Nothing’s too big for me. I just go out and attack it.
Q: Who are some of your favorite NFL players?
A: I love what Jalen Hurts does. I also love Josh Allen and like what Baker Mayfield does. Those are three guys that I love to watch and how passion they all have to play the game.
