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

Just like the Mannings.

Dart, the third-ranked quarterback in the class according to NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, 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 Friday 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."

Manning will always follow the quarterback of his alma mater, but he 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."

That future could be the Giants, who are currently in Indianapolis trying to find their next franchise quarterback. Dart was asked about his interactions with the Giants so far.

"That's been great," he said. "Coach Daboll is somebody who brings a ton of energy anytime you step into a room. That whole coaching staff, I've had a ton of experience working with them at the Senior Bowl (where offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Mike Kafka served as a head coach) and meeting with them. Especially here, being able to sit and talk ball again, it's been a lot of fun."

Now he is at the NFL Combine to show people there isn't a gulf between him and Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. But that's for the media to talk about and the teams to decide.

"Look, there's a lot of people who say a lot of different things, so I'm not trying to tie my head into anything like that," Dart said. "I'm somebody that's process-driven. I just want to take it one day at a time. This has been a dream for me since I was a little kid to be in this position that I'm in today. I'm really just trying to improve. I know that if I control things that I can control, everything's going to play out the right way. I'm not even too nervous about that at all."

General manager Joe Schoen said earlier in the week that he would like to pair a young quarterback with a veteran. How would Dart handle that?

"I've never sat on the bench before," Dart said. "So that would definitely be an adjustment early on, but I don't think that's a bad thing at all. I think it's something that you can go into a situation and learn as much as you can. A lot of times when you're in that situation or playing behind a veteran quarterback who's had a ton of success and just knows a ton about the game. So you've got to be a sponge, and I think that a lot of times you've seen some of the most successful quarterbacks come out of situations like that. You can bring up Patrick Mahomes. As of late, you know, Jordan Love."

If that opportunity eventually comes with the Giants, then the odometer would reset to 57,023 yards.