Fact or Fiction: Jaxson Dart will start at Ole Miss
In today’s Fact or Fiction, Mike Farrell looks at three big recent topics in college football and decides whether the statement is indeed FACT or if it’s FICTION.
*****
MORE FARRELL: Where will Caleb Williams land?
CLASS OF 2022 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State | JUCO
CLASS OF 2023 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
TRANSFER PORTAL: Stories/coverage | Message board
RIVALS CAMP SERIES: Info for 2022 series
*****
1. Jaxson Dart will start at Ole Miss.
Farrell’s take: FACT. It’s not official yet but there are reports that Jaxson Dart has enrolled at Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin has secured the key QB transfer from USC. And if that’s the case, trust me he will start over Luke Altmyer and whomever else. Why? That’s the way things are played these days.
Instant starting assurances must be made this year to coveted quarterbacks who are transferring. With Name, Image and Likeness in full force this transfer season, players like Dart are assured playing time as they choose among multiple teams of interest.
This, of course, leads to some issues balancing promises to high school recruits as well and is a bit of a pickle for college coaches. But it’s the way the game is played now. And if Dart announces to Ole Miss as expected along with friend and ex-USC teammate TE Michael Triggs, you can bet he will be the man behind center.
*****
2. Derek Mason is an upgrade as defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.
Farrell’s take: FICTION. I like Derek Mason and he’s done some good things at hard places to win such as Stanford and Vanderbilt when it comes to selling and developing football. But the Oklahoma State defense was excellent under Jim Knowles, who is now at Ohio State, and Mason struggled last season at Auburn with more talent than he’s had on defense in years.
Yes, the Tigers played well against Alabama but more often than not the Auburn defense was blowing coverages in the secondary and lacking aggression in the pass rush. Frustration was high among the Auburn fan base regarding Mason and Oklahoma State was eighth in the country last season, giving up only 16.8 points a game. That number will rise.
*****
3. The Jim Harbaugh-to-Las Vegas rumors were bogus.
Farrell’s take: FACT. I think they were, I really do. While “sources” close to Michigan were reportedly worried Harbaugh would leave and had serious interest in the Las Vegas Raiders job, he was out recruiting his butt off and players and recruits alike said nothing of a potential move by Harbaugh. Is this unusual? Not really, as we’ve seen many coaches make the leap to the NFL from the road while recruiting and lies in the recruiting world are common.
But I never got one inking that the report that insiders at Michigan feared he would leave are true. This happens often as agents try to get their clients better deals and all but I’ve been told Harbaugh doesn’t play that game nor care. He’s a different guy as many will attest and staying at Michigan appears to have been the thought all along.