Quarterback
Lane Kiffin and the Ole Miss Rebels will be starting the 2025 season without Jaxson Dart under center for the first time in 3 seasons. Replacing Dart will be redshirt sophomore Austin Simmons.
Formerly ranked as the 19th overall quarterback in the 2023 class, the 6’3 215-pound lefty has learned behind Dart for 2 years. Simmons has attempted 32 passes in his career, completing 59% of those passes. Our best preview of Simmons occurred in the Georgia game while Dart was sidelined with an injury. Simmons was 5/6 for 64 yards against the Bulldogs.
The new starter will be trying to mesh with a few wide receiver transfers while also adjusting to his new responsibilities as the starting QB. Lane Kiffin has kept Austin Simmons on this roster for multiple years and chose not to bring in a star-studded transfer QB this offseason. So, Lane Kiffin seems to have full confidence in Austin Simmons.
Offensive Line
Ole Miss will enter the 2025 season with four new starters on the offensive line. Projected starters Delano Townsend and Patrick Kutas were brought in through the transfer portal this offseason. Kutas was ranked as 247 Sports’ #1 interior offensive lineman in the portal.
Jaxson Dart was sacked 28 times in 2024, and the Rebels ranked 84th in total sacks allowed. The 2025 offensive line will look to keep Austin Simmons off the turf.
Ole Miss ranked 47th in the country in rushing yards per game in 2024, running for 170.2 yards per game. While that number could be worse, the 2025 offensive line will certainly look to increase that number in the coming season.
Defensive Line
One of the best units in college football in 2024 will be replacing all 4 starters in the front 4. Jared Ivey, JJ Pegues, Walter Nolen, and Princely Umanmielen combined for 27.5 sacks last year. Now, they’re all in the NFL.
Ole Miss added Da’Shawn Womack and Princewill Umanmielen in the transfer portal this offseason. Princewill is the brother of Princely from last year’s team. Womack and Princewill Umanmielen were 4-star recruits in the transfer portal; however, these two combined for 1.5 sacks in 20 combined games in 2024.
Defensive tackles Zxavian Harris and Jamarius Brown provide good experience in the interior, but the experience behind them is minimal.
Ole Miss sacked opposing QBs 52 times last season, mostly because of a truly dominant front 4. Lane Kiffin’s defense hopes to be elite again in 2025, and it starts with being disruptive up front.
Secondary
Ole Miss is replacing all five starters from its 2024 secondary unit. To help fill in the spots, Lane Kiffin brought in five defensive back transfers this offseason. However, those five transfers have totaled just 5 career interceptions.
Chris Graves Jr and Nick Cull return some playing time for Ole Miss from last season, but they totaled zero interceptions last season. The Ole Miss secondary intercepted 9 passes in 2024, and all players who made those interceptions are gone.
Will 4 3-star transfers and 1 4-star transfer be enough to fill the holes left in the secondary? Lane Kiffin is gambling on the transfer portal to bolster his secondary for the 2025 season.
