Lane Kiffin calls Austin Simmons an ‘elite talent’ at SEC Media Days
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Lane Kiffin knows that Austin Simmons has patiently waited his turn to be the man in Oxford.
First, the Florida product was the 3rd-string quarterback during the 2023 season, and he eventually redshirted. Then came another year of waiting in 2024, when Simmons was the backup to star quarterback Jaxson Dart. Sure, there were some relief appearances in blowout victories last fall, and Simmons even completed his only passing attempt for 34 yards in Ole Miss’s rout of Duke in the Gator Bowl.
All told, the quarterback-in-waiting completed 19 of 32 passes for 282 yards with 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions during the 2024 season as he once again perfected the art of patience while Dart dazzled for the Rebels.
But now the waiting game is finally over for the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder from Miami, and Simmons is ready to take over the offense in Oxford in 2025. His head coach certainly believes in him going into this crucial fall, and Kiffin made sure to tell all the reporters gathered in Atlanta to hear him speak at SEC Media Days.
“He’s got elite talent. He’s maturing. Obviously, did a great job when he came in the Georgia game,” Lane Kiffin told reporters on Monday, referring to Simmons going 5 for 6 for 64 yards passing in spot duty during the Rebels’ victory over Georgia last November.
This fall, there will be no more spot duty for Simmons. This fall, Simmons will be under center at the start of the season opener, and Kiffin is very good with that fact.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
