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Kirby Smart will face some of the most talented players in the SEC when the Ole Miss Rebels come to Athens on Saturday.
Smart was asked on Monday for his analysis of Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, and he credited coach Lane Kiffin.
“Lane’s quarterbacks take on a personality from him. They have a lot of moxie, they have a lot of talent, they play hard,” Smart said. “They play with reckless abandon for their body. He runs like a running back. He’s taken some hits this year and shown his toughness. He’s not gonna shy away from contact, and toughness.”
Smart also referred to what sets Dart apart from other QBs.
“The extra element of run gives them a competitive advantage over a lot of the teams you play,” Smart said. “They have great backs, but he runs the ball like a back and he throws the ball really well to. That’s what makes them really hard to defend. You’ve got a guy who can make all the throws, but can also take off and run. He’s proven the ability to do that.”
Dart has led Ole Miss to an 8-1 record this season. The junior quarterback is completing 65.6% of his passes for 2,467 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions.
One of Dart’s top targets is Tre Harris at wide receiver, and Smart used one word to describe defending him.
“Hard. It’s hard to put 2 people on him,” Smart said. “You talk about the backs, you talk about the quarterback. “They look for matchups, Lane looks for matchups and he’s looking for every opportunity he can to get a high percentage matchup in his favor. It’s easier to do when you’ve got big, good wideouts and a quarterback who can get them the ball and your ability to run the ball.”
“How do you do it? You do it like you do every week. You do your best to cover them, and defend them and you try to control the run game. It’s the package of what they do together, not one thing, that compliments each other.”
Harris has been a key focal point point for Ole Miss’ offense this year contributing 749 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns on 38 receptions.
Georgia hosts Ole Miss at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday on ESPN.
