The biggest position battle for the Ole Miss Rebels is not one the one you would think it would be heading into 2024. It is the backup quarterback battle between redshirt sophomore Walker Howard and freshman Austin Simmons.
The unquestioned started for Lane Kiffin’s Rebels in 2024 will be Jaxson Dart, who is returning as the teams starting quarterback for the third straight year. Dart led the Rebels to an 11-2 record in 2023, throwing for 3,364 yards and 23 touchdowns with a passer rating of 162.4. Behind Dart however, the competition is intensifying.
What was Walker Howard ranked out of high school?
Howard was part of the 2022 high school recruiting class and ranked as the sixth best quarterback in the class according to On3. The four star product began his career for his home state LSU Tigers, but saw competition ahead of him in the starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and 2024 projected starting Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussmeier.
After one season in Baton Rouge, Howard transferred to Oxford where he spent last season as third string backing up Dart and Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders who has now graduated.
In theory this should move Howard up to the number two spot on the depth chart, but with the arrival of Simmons on campus this offseason, that battle has heated up again.
What was Austin Simmons ranked out of high school?
Simmons reclassified to become a member of the 2024 class and was rated as the 18th best quarterback out of the state of Florida according to On3. This however was after reclassifying. Had Simmons stayed in high school, his ranking inevitably would have been higher.
Simmons is a dual sport athlete, pitching for the Rebels baseball team as well. Simmons boasts a fastball in the upper 90’s on the diamond and his arm is second to none when it comes to the gridiron as well.
Why is there a competition for the backup quarterback position at Ole Miss?
With the arrival of Simmons on campus this past offseason and him impressing in camp early on for the Rebels, this has heated up the debate for the 2025 season and beyond for the Rebels. Kiffin seems to keep battles like this close to the vest, so we may have to wait until the first time in the regular season when Dart is pulled with the Rebels being up big to see which quarterback he opts to put in next.
With the transfer poral in play, NIL and other factors, this battle and dynamic could change very quickly at the end of the 2024 season. For now though, it remains a heated competition between Howard and Simmons for the number two spot on the quarterback depth chart.