If you’ve been following college football or the NFL lately, you know the name Jaxson Dart. He's that gutsy, dual-threat quarterback who basically became the face of the Ole Miss Rebels before making the jump to the pros. But here's the thing: despite how much airtime he gets, I still run into people who think he played his whole career in Oxford. Or worse, they mix up his high school stats with his early college days.
So, where did Jaxson Dart go to college? The short answer is he actually split his time between two major programs: USC and Ole Miss.
It wasn't just a simple hop from one school to another, though. His journey was a chaotic, high-stakes ride through the transfer portal that perfectly mirrors how the sport changed in the early 2020s. Honestly, if you want to understand why Dart plays with such a chip on his shoulder, you have to look at the messy way things ended in Los Angeles and the "all-in" gamble he took on Lane Kiffin.
The USC Era: A Flashes of Brilliance in a Sinking Ship
Jaxson Dart arrived at the University of Southern California (USC) as a highly touted freshman in 2021. He wasn't some under-the-radar recruit; the kid was the Gatorade National Player of the Year coming out of Corner Canyon High School in Utah. He had options, but he chose the glitz and glamour of the Trojans.
His debut was legendary.
In September 2021, he came off the bench for an injured Kedon Slovis against Washington State and absolutely lit it up. He threw for 391 yards and four touchdowns—a school record for a debut. But that game was bittersweet. He actually played a huge chunk of it with a torn meniscus. Talk about "toughing it out."
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The rest of the season was... weird. USC was a mess. Clay Helton was fired, the team was losing, and Dart was trying to rehab a knee while splitting time with Slovis. He finished his true freshman year at USC with:
- 1,353 passing yards
- 9 touchdowns
- 5 interceptions
Then, the bombshell dropped. USC hired Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma. Almost immediately, rumors started swirling that Riley’s star pupil at Oklahoma, Caleb Williams, was going to follow him to LA. Dart saw the writing on the wall. He didn't want to spend his sophomore year in a "fair" competition against a Heisman-caliber guy who already knew the playbook.
So, he entered the portal.
The Move to Oxford: Why Ole Miss Was the Perfect Fit
When Dart hit the transfer portal in early 2022, he was the hottest commodity on the market. He visited Oklahoma (ironic, right?) and BYU, but Ole Miss felt like home. Why? Lane Kiffin.
Kiffin’s offense is basically a "quarterback’s dream." It’s fast, it’s aggressive, and it lets players use their legs. Dart wasn't just looking for a starting job; he wanted to be the focal point of a program.
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His time in Oxford was transformative. He didn't just play for Ole Miss; he became the identity of the team. He led them to their first-ever 11-win season in 2023, capped off with a dominant Peach Bowl victory over Penn State. By the time he was done, he had surpassed names like Eli Manning on some of the school's all-time leaderboards.
Looking at the Numbers
If you're a stats junkie, Dart’s progression at Ole Miss is pretty wild. He got more efficient every single year.
In 2022, he was a bit of a "gunslinger," taking big risks and throwing 11 picks. But by 2024, his senior year, he was surgical. He finished that final season with over 4,200 passing yards and nearly a 70% completion rate. Basically, he went from a raw talent with a big arm to a professional-grade field general.
The High School Roots: Corner Canyon and the Utah Legacy
You can't talk about where Jaxson Dart went to college without mentioning where he came from. He's a Utah kid through and through. Before he was "the guy" in the SEC, he was putting up video game numbers at Corner Canyon High School in Draper.
In his senior year alone, he threw for 4,691 yards and 67 touchdowns. Yes, 67. That’s not a typo. He was essentially a legend in the state of Utah before he ever set foot on a college campus. That foundation is where he developed the rushing ability that made him so dangerous in college. He wasn't just a pocket passer; he was a guy who would lower his shoulder and run over a linebacker if it meant getting a first down.
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What’s Next for Jaxson Dart?
As of 2026, Dart has transitioned into the pro ranks, having been a first-round selection by the New York Giants in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's kind of poetic, actually. He followed the path of Eli Manning from Oxford to the Meadowlands.
If you’re trying to keep up with his career or maybe you’re looking to grab some of his memorabilia, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Check the SEC History Books: Dart finished his career in the top 5 for total offense in SEC history. That’s a massive feat considering he only played three years in the conference.
- NIL Pioneer: He was one of the first athletes to sign a deal with a private jet company (Nicholas Air). It shows how he was always ahead of the curve in the "new" era of college sports.
- Jersey Hunt: If you're looking for his gear, his #2 Ole Miss jersey is a collector's item, but he’s already making waves with the Giants.
Honestly, Dart’s story is a blueprint for the modern athlete. He navigated a coaching change, used the transfer portal to his advantage, and bet on himself in the toughest conference in America. Whether you're a Trojan fan who wonders "what if," or a Rebel fan who treats him like royalty, there's no denying he's one of the most impactful college quarterbacks of the last decade.
Your next move? If you're looking to dig deeper into the stats that made him a first-rounder, I'd suggest checking out the detailed season-by-season breakdown of his 2024 Heisman-finalist run at Ole Miss. It really highlights the leap he took in his decision-making.