Jaxson Dart named to Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List

July 30, 2024 Bob Bakken

Credit: Ole Miss Athletics

July 29 – Ole Miss football senior quarterback Jaxson Dart has been named to the Maxwell Award Preseason Watch List, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Monday.

Dart is one of 80 players nationally to make the preseason watch list, as well as one of 15 from the SEC. The Maxwell Award has been presented to the College Player of the Year since 1937 and is named in honor of Robert “Tiny” Maxwell, who was a former standout at Swarthmore College and a renowned sportswriter and football official.

Dart enters his third year as the signal caller for the Rebels in 2024 and is coming off the best season of his career in 2023 after leading Ole Miss to its first 11-win season in 129 years of program history. Dart – a semifinalist for the 2023 Davey O’Brien Award – concluded the season 233-of-358 (65.1 percent) for 3,364 yards, 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions (tied for the fewest in single-season Ole Miss history with at least 200 attempts). Dart was also highly effective on the ground, notching 389 yards and eight scores on 119 total carries.

Dart was among the SEC’s best in all the major categories, and was ranked top-20 nationally in yards per attempt (eighth, 9.4), yards per completion (10th, 14.4), total offense (16th, 288.7 YPG) and total passing yards (20th, 3,364). His 2023 season also ranks among the best ever by a Rebel quarterback, ranking second in passing efficiency (162.4), second in yards per attempt (9.4), third in completion percentage (65.1), third in yards per completion (14.4), fourth in total touchdowns responsible for (31), tied for fourth in 300-yard passing games (5), fifth in passing yards (3,364), fifth in total offense (3,753) and sixth in passing touchdowns (23).

Entering his final season with the Rebels in 2024, Dart also stands within striking range of several career records in Ole Miss history. At the moment, Dart ranks third all-time in passing efficiency (153.0), third in yards per attempt (8.8), third in yards per completion (13.8), fourth in completion percentage (63.8), fifth in passing yards (6,338), fifth in total offense (7,341), tied for sixth in passing touchdowns (43), tied for sixth in 300-yard passing games (7), tied for sixth in total touchdowns responsible for (52), seventh in completions (459) and 10th in attempts (720).

Semifinalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced Nov. 12, while the three finalists for the Maxwell Award will be unveiled Nov. 26. The winner of the 88th Maxwell Award will be announced as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show held on Dec 12. The formal presentations of the Maxwell Award will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on March 14, 2025 at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta, Georgia.

The Maxwell Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association (NCFAA), which encompasses college football’s most prestigious awards. The NCFAA’s 25 awards have honored more than 900 recipients since 1935. This season, 12 NCFAA awards will honor national players of the week each Tuesday.

Sixteen NCFAA members are unveiling preseason watch lists over a two-week period as the association spearheads a coordinated effort to promote each award’s preseason candidates.

Mon., July 29: Maxwell Award
Tue., July 30: Outland Trophy/Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Wed., July 31: Paycom Jim Thorpe Award
Thu., Aug. 1: Paul Hornung Award/Wuerffel Trophy
Fri., Aug. 2: Lou Groza Award/Ray Guy Award
Mon., Aug. 5: Walter Camp Award
Tue., Aug. 6: Doak Walker Award
Wed., Aug. 7: Biletnikoff Award
Thu., Aug. 8: Davey O’Brien Award
Fri., Aug. 9: Mackey Award/Rimington Trophy
Mon., Aug. 12: Bednarik Award
Tue., Aug. 13: Butkus Award