Elite QB prospect doesn’t hesitate to name drop Lane Kiffin’s biggest offseason hire as the key to his interest
The Ole Miss Rebels continue to earn rave reviews from top quarterback prospects. Lane Kiffin has built an offensive machine in Oxford, and the best recruits consistently comment on how the feisty head coach can get the most out of the position. With Jaxson Dart thriving as a former transfer and eventual first-round NFL draft […]
The Ole Miss Rebels continue to earn rave reviews from top quarterback prospects. Lane Kiffin has built an offensive machine in Oxford, and the best recruits consistently comment on how the feisty head coach can get the most out of the position. With Jaxson Dart thriving as a former transfer and eventual first-round NFL draft pick, it’s not a surprise to see 2027 four-star Keegan Croucher have the Rebels in his top three.
The 6-foot-3, 185-pounder has Ole Miss tied with Penn State and Oregon entering a slate of three visits this fall. The New York product starts his tour in Oxford when LSU comes to town on Sept. 27, then heads to Penn State before hitting Oregon. The interesting part of Croucher’s process is that he’s quite drawn to Kiffin and the staff he’s built.
Newly-promoted QB coach Joe Judge is at the heart of Croucher’s comments. The former New York Giants head coach was brought on as a senior advisor in 2024 before having to make a big effort to keep him in town as offers came his way. Judge stayed on with Ole Miss after getting a promotion to assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach.
Here’s what Croucher told Rivals about his relationship with Ole Miss and when he might make a commitment announcement.
“I’ve gotten really close to the coaching staff in the past six months. I’ve gone down there twice, including a four-day visit. I really like what they’ve done with their offense. The addition of coach Joe [Judge] last year — having that NFL guy with experience and knowledge — is something colleges don’t usually get.”
“I can commit any time, but most likely after the season,” Croucher said. “The biggest thing when I commit is who I have the best relationship with and where I get the best development as a player. I want a place that feels like home.”
Dart improved massively over the course of his career, largely thanks to Kiffin’s influence and his own personal work ethic. The new Giants’ quarterback saw his completion rate jump from 61.9% to 69.3%, and Dart led the conference with 4,279 yards this past season. He was one of the most efficient and explosive passers to ever play Power 4 football.
Croucher’s desire to be the only quarterback within the class is an understandable one. Right now, Ole Miss has 22 offers out to quarterbacks, but zero are committed to the Rebels. The majority of their offers are on projected backups like Blake Roskopf and Sladen Shack.
Judge’s football journey began in Philadelphia, playing at Lansdale Catholic High School before joining Mississippi State (2000–2004), where he earned three letters as a backup quarterback and special teams player. His coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State (2005–2007), followed by roles at Birmingham-Southern and Alabama, where he won two BCS National Championships. Joining the New England Patriots in 2012, he served as special teams coordinator, contributing to three Super Bowl victories. As head coach of the New York Giants (2020–2021), he recorded a 10–23 record.
