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2025 NFL Draft

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Jaxson Dart 'blessed' to have Manning family in his corner

ELI-MANNING-JAXSON-DART-MOODYS

The campus speed limit on most roads at Ole Miss is 18 mph. On others, it's 10. While 2 would have been unbearably slow, Jaxson Dart still left an impact on the Rebel football program.

Just like the Mannings.

Dart, whom the Giants traded up to select with the 25th overall pick, broke the school's all-time passing record during the Egg Bowl last November. The previous mark was held by Eli Manning, who doesn't "usually get excited" when something like that happens. But the two-time Super Bowl MVP made an exception, sending out a congratulatory message to his fellow Rebel.

"Having gotten to meet you over the years and watch your career, I'm happy that it's someone like you," said Manning, who wore No. 10 in college after his father, Archie, was No. 18. "Congratulations again, and keep up the great work."

That he did.

Dart finished out his Ole Miss career with program records in wins (28) and winning percentage (.737) by a starting quarterback (28), total offense (12,115), passing yards (10,617), passing efficiency (162.8), 300-yard passing games (15), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,498), and total offense per play (8.14).

"He's been a huge role model for me," Dart said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Somebody who has shed a lot of wisdom throughout my time at Ole Miss. … [He's someone] I've really looked up to. We've definitely had those conversations. He's a legend. Anytime when you're around that Hall of Fame style of a player, you want to take little pieces and learn as much as you can."

Two months later, Dart found out that he will once again wear the same uniform.

"It's wild," Dart said on draft night. "It's wild to think about. (The Mannings) were just such an amazing asset for me when I was at Ole Miss. Obviously going down to the Manning Passing Academy and spending more time with them there, and then Archie just being consistent with texting me, and he made sure to give me a good luck today, and then Eli, I couldn't ask for a better resource than that. ... I'm going to continue to lean on them a little bit, and I couldn't be more blessed to have them in my corner."

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Manning got an up-close look at Dart during the Manning Passing Academy last summer. Dart was one of several star college quarterbacks who served as counselors.

"I've been to games, and I'd seen him briefly, but it was the first time really getting to sit down with him, hang out with him, go on stage, and tell some stories," Manning told reporters at the time. "I enjoyed his personality. I was able to take some lighthearted digs at him, and he reciprocated and did the same with me, which is fun. That's what it's all about. It kind of makes it special for the group. I got to hang with him … and eat dinner with him. He seems like a great kid and has a good head on his shoulders. I'm excited about his future."

View photos from quarterback Jaxson Dart's collegiate career at Mississippi and USC.

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