By The Ole Miss Rebels are going to have a loaded quarterback room in 2023.
One day after scoring a commitment from ex-LSU QB Walker Howard, former Oklahoma State signal caller Spencer Sanders announced that he’s joining Lane Kiffin’s team in Oxford.
Sanders was a four-year starter for Mike Gundy’s program. As a freshman in 2019, he completed 62.8 percent of his passes for 2,065 yards with a 16/11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Sanders also produced 628 rushing yards, two TDs and a 4.5 yards-per-carry average in 11 games.
In 2020, Sanders led Oklahoma St. to an 8-3 record and a 37-34 win over Miami as a 1.5-point favorite at the Cheez-It Bowl. Sanders torched the Hurricanes for 305 passing yards and four TDs without an interception.
He finished his sophomore campaign with 2,007 passing yards and a 14/8 TD-INT ratio. Sanders, who missed two of the Cowboys’ 11 games, had 269 rushing yards and a pair of scores.
As a junior in 2021, Sanders garnered first-team All-Big-12 honors after leading Oklahoma St. to a 12-2 straight-up record and a 10-4 against-the-spread mark. The Cowboys closed their season by edging Notre Dame 37-35 as one-point underdogs in the Fiesta Bowl.
Sanders was spectacular against the Fighting Irish, connecting on 34-of-51 throws for 371 yards and four TDs without an interception. He also ran for 125 yards on 17 attempts.
Oklahoma St. raced out to a 5-0 start this season, but Sanders sustained a shoulder injury in a 41-31 home win over Texas Tech on Oct. 8. One week later, his playing status was in doubt leading up to a road game at TCU. Before the trip to Ft. Worth, Sanders had a 12/2 TD-INT ratio and six rushing TDs.
Sanders looked outstanding early as the Pokes took a 17-0 lead over the Horned Frogs. He didn’t play as well in the second half, and the Cowboys eventually lost a 43-40 decision in double overtime.
Sanders bounced back the next week to throw for 391 yards and two TDs in a 41-34 home win over Texas. However, more hits to the shoulder and other injuries started to take their toll the following week in a blowout loss at Kansas St.
Spencer only played in two of OSU’s five remaining games, throwing just two TD passes compared to five interceptions.
With 9,553 career passing yards, Sanders ranks second in program history behind only Mason Rudolph, who threw for 13,618 yards from 2014-17 in Stillwater. Sanders has a 67/40 career TD-INT ratio, 1,956 rushing yards and 18 TDs.
Howard signed with LSU as a four-star prospect in the 2022 class. 247Sports had him ranked as the nation’s No. 40 overall player and the No. 5 QB. However, with Jayden Daniels returning for the 2023 campaign, the Lafayette, LA., product decided to explore other options.
Howard appeared in just two games this past season, completing 2-of-4 passes for seven yards. He had 33 rushing yards on six attempts.
Dart was a four-star recruit in the 2021 class, the country’s No. 69 overall prospect and the 10th-ranked QB at 247Sports. He played in six games as a true freshman at Southern Cal, completing 117-of-189 passes (61.9%) for 1,353 yards with a 9/5 TD-INT ratio.
With Caleb Williams coming to USC from Oklahoma along with new HC Lincoln Riley, Dart decided to transfer to Ole Miss in the spring of 2022. He started all 13 games for the Rebels this past year, connecting on 62.4 percent of his throws for 2,974 yards with a 20/11 TD-INT ratio. Dart also ran for 614 yards and one TD, averaging 4.8 YPC.
