New Ole Miss Rebels starter says ‘I just know I’m made for it’ ahead of highly-anticipated 2025 season debut
New Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons gave fans a glimpse of what could be in 2025 last year. In emergency spot duty when now New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart went down with an injury, Simmons came in against No. 2 Georgia and engineered a touchdown drive. No sweat.But, Dart is gone and now it’s […]
New Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons gave fans a glimpse of what could be in 2025 last year. In emergency spot duty when now New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart went down with an injury, Simmons came in against No. 2 Georgia and engineered a touchdown drive. No sweat.
But, Dart is gone and now it’s Simmons’ team to lead in 2025. But the Miami, Fla., native hasn’t flinched yet – including a recent interview with ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
“I just want people to just understand that there’s going to be a lot more moments like that,” Simmons said.
When Thamel questioned his unbridled confidence: “I just know I’m made for it.”
“He just has that Tua thing.”
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin tells Thamel he knew it right away when he turned on the tape.
“There’s no way you teach any of that,” Kiffin said of Simmons and his former quarterback at Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa, a southpaw now with the Miami Dolphins. “They just have that.”
Simmons’ elite composure was also no shock to Ole Miss head baseball coach, Mike Bianco. The Ole Miss quarterback was a pitcher for the Rebels during his freshman campaign. The staff was taken aback but had to remind themselves Simmons is just different.
“The composure didn’t surprise any of us,” Bianco told ESPN by phone. “He’s a special guy, physically and mentally. I know he hasn’t been the starter yet, but to watch what he’s done and his presence on the mound in the SEC … for him to have that composure and belief is special.”
Austin Simmons is a confident but humble kid. But the competitiveness comes out quickly.
“I just feel like it’s just the beginning, honestly, because I’m just reaching that potential right now,” he said. “This is my first year really showcasing myself and frankly, no one really knows who I am until that first SEC game. So, I just can’t wait to experience that moment, really just show everyone who I am.”
A lot of his drive to be the best comes from his upbringing and playing a dual-sport player. Simmons tells Thamel he did not have a regular teenager life growing up – sporting an intense regimen laid out by his father, Dave Simmons.
“Being that invested in two sports, you’re occupied the entire year, so basically you’re really taking away the social life at the same time,” Austin Simmons said. “I’m still building, I’m still experiencing social experiences with my teammates, but it’s not the same when you’re out in the real world and stuff like that. So I’m learning right now.”
Lane Kiffin is keen on getting every ounce of ability out of Austin Simmons. But a lot of it is out his hands, he says.
“There’s no way you teach any of that,” Kiffin said. “I don’t know [anything] about golf, but I bet there’s a lot within golf swings where a coach goes like, ‘Man, that guy just has this unbelievable swing. I can’t really teach it.’ I feel like that’s the case.”
Alas, Simmons knows there’s more work to be done in order to get Ole Miss to where it wants to be. Last season, Ole Miss seemingly missed the CFP after losing on the road to Florida in November a week after Simmons’ heroics versus Georgia.
The Ole Miss quarterback has a plan, though. Don’t worry.
“One drive doesn’t really define me as a quarterback,” Simmons said. “People are going to see exactly how I play against better competition.”
