Inside the Rebels offers its three bold predictions for Ole Miss’ 2024 offense.
Tyler Komis
Lane Kiffin's 2023 offense lived up to the expectations and then some in a season where Ole Miss won 11 games for the first time in program history.
In 13 games Kiffin's Rebels finished their latest memorable season averaging 35 points per game, 285.6 passing yards per game and 176 rushing yards per game. Ole Miss' 35-point average a season ago was the second best mark by a Kiffin offense in Oxford (39.4 PPG 2020).
The great news going into the 2024 season is that Ole Miss returns most of its offensive starters from a year ago with the exceptions of guard Quincy McGee, tackle Victor Curne, wide receiver Dayton Wade and running back Quinshon Judkins.
Despite the departure of those pieces, Ole Miss' offense is not expected to take one step back whatsoever. The plethora of returnees — and additions — make it one of the best offenses around the country, on paper.
While fall camp remains under a month away, let's take a look at some bold predictions for what looks to be another high-powered offense in Oxford.
Jaxson Dart becomes second 4,000-yard passer
In his junior campaign and his second season with the Rebels, Jaxson Dart was simply brilliant controlling the offense. His 3,364 passing yards marked the most for a Rebel since Kiffin became head coach back in December of 2019.
Now, Dart should be the most comfortable he's ever been at Ole Miss, finally heading into a season where he's the unquestioned starter, and Kiffin's right hand man. That wasn't always the case (publicly), but it is now heading into one of the most important Ole Miss seasons ever.
My prediction for the senior signal-caller? Dart will be leaving the Ole Miss campus as the Rebels' all-time leading passer. Those are my expectations for the early Heisman candidate who is surrounded by elite talent top to bottom.
It will easily be the best weaponry Dart has had since his time at Ole Miss. Dart has recorded 6,338 career passing yards in two seasons in Oxford (Eli Manning's record, 10,119 passing yards). Only Chad Kelly has thrown for at least 4,000 yards in an Ole Miss season (2015).
Rushing attack averages at least 220 yards per game
In response to Judkins hitting the transfer portal just days after Ole Miss' Peach Bowl victory, Kiffin opted to add four running backs of his own through free agency.
Rashad Amos, Henry Parrish Jr., Logan Diggs and Domonique Thomas all joined Ulysess Bentley IV in Kevin Smith's running back room. That's five capable running backs to help keep Ole Miss' offense fresh. Bentley is expected to be the day one starter, but be surprised if there's an every down workhorse here.
With the talent and depth of this running back room, the days of running one guy into the ground should be over. We should see constant rotation depending on the situation, health, stamina, etc. That alone will be a significant benefit in keeping the ground attack fresh, and they'll be doing it behind a retooled offensive line.
Ole Miss' 176 rushing yards per game last year marked their lowest in the Kiffin era, which has never failed to put up at least 200 rushing yards per game in a season. That was with their record-breaking superstar back as well. With their bolstered stable now, I'm predicting Ole Miss to average 220 rushing yards per game, which would be their second-most in a season (256 RYPG) since 2020.
Three over 800 receiving yards
If Dart is going to achieve 4,000 passing yards in one season, a lot of mouths will be fed in this year's offense.
Tre Harris, Jordan Watkins, Antwane 'Juice' Wells and Caden Prieskorn all present threats to SEC defenses when healthy. Three of these four will have at least 800 receiving yards in 2024.
Health will be key. Harris would've been Ole Miss' first 1,000-yard receiver since Dontario Drummond (2021) if he hadn't undergone knee surgery during the season. Ole Miss' second-year wide receiver will be the featured target in the offense and will likely be the opposing defenses first marquee player to highlight.
Though he came just 15 yards short of accomplishing the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, I have Harris hitting the mark comfortably in 2024.
Ole Miss will kickoff their upcoming 2024 campaign at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium against Furman on Saturday Aug. 31. Streaming will be available for the home season-opener on SECN+/ESPN+ at 6 p.m. CT.
