Lane Kiffin Makes Exciting Comparison for NY Giants' Jaxson Dart
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Soon, the New York Giants will fire up a new quarterback era. Jaxson Dart will be the one to take the lead.
Coming out of Ole Miss, Dart travels a similar path as the franchise's legendary quarterback, Eli Manning. Perhaps the comparisons helped the Giants make their decision to trade back into the first round during the 2025 NFL Draft to select Dart.
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin recently suggested that Dart has "a lot of Eli Manning in him" on the 'Giants Huddle' podcast. For Giants fans, that's certainly an exciting comparison.
Manning played 43 games at Ole Miss before entering the NFL in 2004. He wrapped up his college career with over 10,000 passing yards and an 81-35 touchdown-interception ratio.
When Manning reached the 2004 NFL Draft, he was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers. The quarterback famously refused to play for them. As a result, the Chargers eventually had to swap out Manning for Philip Rivers and several other assets.
Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels participates in a drill during Ole Miss Pro Day at the Manning Athletic Center on March 28, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi.
Jaxson Dart #2 of the Mississippi Rebels participates in a drill during Ole Miss Pro Day at the Manning Athletic Center on March 28, 2025 in Oxford, Mississippi.Manning wasn't the full-time starter right away, but he started seven games during his rookie season. From that point on, he led the Giants until he was benched after four games during the 2019 NFL season.
The Giants rolled with Daniel Jones for several seasons, but put an end to that era during the 2024 NFL season. They hope that Dart can eventually take over. For the time being, Dart will hold the clipboard as a rookie, just as Manning did at first.
Dart enters the NFL after a 45-game run in the NCAA. Six of those games came at USC when he was a freshman. During Dart's 2023 season, he helped Ole Miss achieve a record of 11-2. He threw for 3,364 yards on 65 percent passing accuracy. Dart tossed 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions.
Last year, Dart completed nearly 70 percent of his passes while totaling 4,279 yards. He totaled 29 touchdowns while throwing just six interceptions.
Entering the NFL, Kiffin suggests that Dart is the "complete package" for the Giants. And even if the young quarterback is going through growing pains, the college coach strongly believes he's got the tools to overcome it.
"If he is struggling with something, he's going to find a way," Kiffin added. "He's going to stay after. He's going to do whatever it takes."
Dart had the opportunity to work directly with Kiffin, along with former Giants head coach Joe Judge. Dart recently spoke on Judge's impact in helping the young quarterback prepare for the next level through on-field preparation and film study.
This week, Dart will pair up with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to compete in his first NFL training camp. While Wilson is expected to start the year for the Giants, every snap will be important for Dart, as winning the backup position behind a one-year rental could lead to a major opportunity in year one.
For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Seahawks fan fest: Kenneth Walker rests ‘soreness'; Ernest Jones mourns; more Tory Horton
Kenneth Walker's health is a subject again. Not an issue. But a subject. Walker is the Seahawks' lead running back. He is vital to the Seahawks' new offensive coordinator's promise and directive this season of running the ball 'first and foremost,' as new quarterback Sam Darnold keeps saying. Darnold's fortunes, those of new play caller Klint Kubiak — heck, Seattle's season — will largely go as Walker goes. If he is not available for any time, for any reason, you can hear the angst from fans across the Pacific Northwest. Walker missed training-camp practice Friday. He was not available Saturday evening. Zach Charbonnet was the lead back instead when the Seahawks had their annual fan-fest practice in front of a couple thousand fans at Lumen Field. It was Charbonnet, not Walker, who caught a swing pass from Darnold on the first play of 11-on-11 scrimmaging in the stadium. 'It's just a little soreness with his foot right now. But he's fine,' coach Mike Macdonald said Saturday night following the 10th practice of camp. 'We're just taking care of him right now throughout camp.' Walker, 24, missed six of 17 games last season. The ankle injury he got in December put him on injured reserve and ended his third NFL season. Coaches kept him out of 11-on-11 work during offseason practices this spring. That made it noteworthy he was full go when this training camp began, and for the first practice in full pads to begin this week. And it's noteworthy when he's sidelined. This is a team that lost Chris Carson in his prime with a neck injury in 2022. This is a team that in 2017 went through 16 different running backs carrying the ball because of injuries. This is a team that had legend Marshawn Lynch re-join them out of 14 months of semi-retirement, on Christmas Eve 2019, because so many other running backs had gotten hurt that season. The groans you are hearing about Walker's foot soreness stems from the fact he's yet to play a full season since Seattle drafted him in the second round in 2022 out of Michigan State. And from the fact he plays the most injured position in the sports, the one with the shortest career span. Yet before this foot soreness, Walker said this on Wednesday: 'I feel good. You know, it's good to come out here, be able to play with my brothers and grow throughout training camp and everything with them. It's been cool.' 'I've been changing my routine up, how I eat and sleep. And I definitely feel it in my performance, so I'm going to just keep it up and go into it with the season.' That was when he was participating in almost all the drills with running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu. Thursday when the coach was yanking at a cord attached to the ball as Walker jogged with the ball tightly under his arm. He hasn't practiced since then. This is his contract year. He is playing for what he will play and how much he will earn in 2026, and beyond. He said Wednesday general manager John Schneider and the Seahawks had not talked to him or his agent about a new contract. The team likely wants to see him in Kubiak's new offense, and him get through the season relatively healthy, before making that decision. 'With that part, honestly, I just want to be positive and keep my mind on football and not a contract and all that,' Walker said. 'I just want to make a positive impact on my team and go out there and play it to the best of my ability, and that's what I've been wanting to do since my rookie year to now. 'I'm going to just keep that same mindset and not worry about everything.' Ernest Jones mourning Middle linebacker Ernest Jones was back practicing for the second consecutive day. Saturday morning Jones IV posted on social media he remains in mourning over his father passing away. 'Give me some time, man... I'm hurting,' his son wrote on X/Twitter. Macdonald, whose father is in need of a kidney transplant, said he's talked this week to Jones about his loss. 'I can't imagine going through that,' Macdonald said. 'That's why it's so important for have support (in the team facility) for guys when they need it, because our guys need to be helped. Obviously, EJ (Ernest Jones IV) needs it now. We've got 90 guys on the roster. They're all dealing with stuff. It's hard to imagine. You're trying to be empathetic with him and again, be as supportive as we possibly can.' Jones left the team to be with his family at their home in Georgia following his dad's death. 'He's a beast. The guy is an alpha,' Macdonald said of his middle linebacker the team traded for during last season and re-signed this spring. 'He's probably our top leader on defense. 'But it's a tough time. It's really hard, and his family needs him, they're really far away. That's a tough balance right now, so it's going to be a process over the next however long. One of these things never goes away. It's this new reality which is unfortunate.' Tory Horton keeps rising Rookie fifth-round draft choice Tory Horton continued his rise from demoralizing knee surgery 10 months ago at Colorado State to the Seahawks starting offense. On the fourth play of the first scrimmage period Saturday night he caught a pass at the sideline from Darnold. Darnold threw to him again on the next play, but well wide of Horton to end the series. Later, Horton made another of his deft toe taps inside the sideline while catching a pass from Darnold that otherwise would have been incomplete out of bounds. 'A wise man, Steve Smith Sr. (2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist) once said 'Rookies need to make a play a day to make a name for themselves.' And he's doing that,' Macdonald said of Horton. 'He's making multiple plays every day.' Horton has for now passed veteran Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Jake Bobo on the depth chart. For the second consecutive practice, Valdes-Scantling ran primarily with Drew Lock and the second offense while Horton was with Darnold and the ones. Darnold has been throwing to Horton in scrimmages for more than you'd expect a rookie to see the ball when Cooper Kupp and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are also running routes on plays. 'He has shown a lot of great things so far in training camp,' Darnold said of Horton. 'His curiosity and the questions that he asks with the receivers, and to us as quarterbacks (show) he's hungry to learn the game, learn the system.' No starters in preseason opener Macdonald stated what was becoming obvious: Seahawks starters will not play Thursday in the first preseason game when Pete Carroll's and Geno Smith's Las Vega Raiders come to Lumen Field. Seattle's current coach had an opinion of how the fans and city should greet the Seahawks' former coach and traded quarterback. 'Look, we should be cheering Pete when he gets here. We should be cheering Geno,' Macdonald said. 'How could we not?' Jalen Milroe running Each day in scrimmages, Kubiak calls designed runs for rookie third-string quarterback Jalen Milroe. Saturday night, Milroe took off around end four times for bulldozing-like gains before a defender approached him outside. The offensive coordinator appears to be test the edge containment of Seattle's defensive ends — and perhaps a package of plays for Milroe in each game plan during the regular season. Don't be surprised to see the third-round pick from Alabama running a few, select plays with a running component during the regular season. Extra points *Another day, another sterling play from rookie safety Nick Emmanwori. He was step for step, shoulder to shoulder with fellow rookie second-round pick and tight end Elijah Arroyo on a short out route during Macdonald's one-on-one 'competition' period of practice. Emmanwori knocked away Lock's accurate pass. Then Emmanwori turned to the cheering fans. He gave them a wipe-out signal with his hands, and pantomimed putting a sword back in its sheath after a conquest. Third-year reserve safety went down injured defending a long pass in the end zone during a scrimmage late in practice. He got carted off the field. Macdonald said the fear is a serious knee injury, pending further tests. *Macdonald had the first-team offense simulate a possession in overtime late in practice. Darnold drove his unit down the field with completions to a Jason Myers 'winning' field goal. *The Seahawks have a players day off from practice Sunday, the one day off per week mandated by the NFL collective bargaining agreement. They will return to practicing on Monday.
New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
Mets' Mark Vientos confident at-bats trending in ‘right direction' after deadline worry
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free Mark Vientos heard the rumors and the talks involving his name ahead of the trade deadline, so he was 'worried for sure.' The Mets slugger had started to find a sustained rhythm at the plate again. He had escaped a brutal slump, recovered from a right hamstring strain and, finally, recovered some of the consistency that shaped his 2024 campaign — even if the power was still missing. So when 6 p.m. arrived Thursday and Vientos was still with the Mets, he felt relieved. The outlook for his role the rest of the season remains complicated, as the third baseman and designated hitter remains stuck in a logjam of position players fighting for limited spots. It's why he was removed for a pinch hitter in a matchup move Friday night and why — despite a 10-game hitting streak, tying his career high — he didn't play in Saturday's 12-6 win over the Giants against a right-hander. 3 Mark Vientos hits a single during the fifth inning of the Mets' 10-inning loss to the Giants on Aug. 1, 2025. AP But Vientos, finally, feels like his 'normal self' again at the plate — even though he's 'not extremely hot yet' and hitting just .235 with a .657 OPS for the year. CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS 'It feels great because I'm moving in the right direction,' Vientos told The Post prior to Saturday's game. 'I'm moving forward instead of backward, so I feel like I've been improving and that's all I can ask for.' The lack of power, as has been the case all season, remains the most glaring omission from Vientos' ledger. 3 Mark Vientos (27) is congratulated by Brandon Nimmo (9) and Jeff McNeil (1) after hitting a grand slam during the fifth inning of the Mets' loss to the Padres on July 28, 2025. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect 3 Mets' Mark Vientos watches his forceout during the second inning of the Mets' loss to the Padres. AP He entered Saturday with just seven homers — two more than he collected in only the postseason last year — and just one over his past 27 games. But around the Mets series against the Orioles in early July, everything started to change with the rest of Vientos' results. He started generating hits. Multihit games, even. And since that series began, he has hit .317 with a .795 OPS and 10 RBIs. During his brutal slump to open the year, Vientos kept searching for adjustments to his mechanics, but he eventually realized that they were sound and the 'cleanest' they've ever been — and that he rather needed to hunt the pitch, as well as the location, he wanted. He needed to stop stressing about structural layers of his swing, about the constant tinkering of a swing throughout the year. Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters He still needs to recapture the power and pair that with the consistent hits to truly flash his full potential. He still needs to keep producing in order to carve out at-bats while at third base, at designated hitter and against right-handed pitchers. But after a 'perfect' 2024 season with 'no wrongs' followed by a 2025 with plenty of them so far, Vientos might've discovered a solution by stopping his search for one. 'That's where you create the slumps,' Vientos said of the mechanics. '… When guys get into slumps, they can't separate the two, and it took me a while to figure that out. But I'm glad I figured it out because better late than never, right?'
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cardinals injury update: Several players miss Red & White practice
The Arizona Cardinals held their annual Red & White practice on Saturday at State Farm Stadium in front of over 26,000 fans. They were down a few players, which is common every year as training camps progress, especially with how the Cardinals are doubling up on their padded days. Who were the players who did not practice on Saturday? Cardinals Red & White practice: Players who didn't practice Still on the PUP list, defensive linemen Walter Nolen and Bilal Nichols, along with outside linebacker BJ Ojulari cannot practice. Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sat out still with knee soreness, his third straight missed practice. Receiver Michael Wilson is in concussion protocol. Running back James Conner and defensive lineman Calais Campbell were given veteran days off. Per Darren Urban, safety Joey Blount was out with an illness and defensive lineman Justin Jones missed but it is not known why. Also per Urban, backup center Jon Gaines went to the locker room during practice. The Cardinals have Sunday off and will have a walkthrough on Monday. They will practice Tuesday through Thursday and get ready for their first preseason game on Saturday. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Several Cardinals players miss Red & White practice
