ATLANTA — The groundwork for optimism surrounding Ole Miss football this season can be found in a couple of relief appearances made by Austin Simmons against Georgia last year.
The initial instance occurred in April 2024, during the seventh inning of the second game of a baseball double-header against the No. 23 Bulldogs. Simmons, a left-handed relief pitcher, entered the game to protect a lead and proceeded to strike out two batters, one of whom was Charlie Condon, who would later be selected as the No. 3 overall pick in the MLB draft. “Slider, inside,” recalls Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco.
The second instance transpired with a greater degree of attention in Oxford on Nov. 9, when Simmons substituted into the football game against No. 3 Georgia. Filling in for the injured quarterback Jaxon Dart, Simmons spearheaded a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, displaying remarkable composure to tie the game. “I simply went out there and dominated,” Simmons recounted with similar poise. “I just had faith in my preparation.”
Bianco observed the initial relief performance from the Rebel dugout and was not taken aback when the subsequent performance with the precious lefty happened at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
“The poise didn’t surprise any of us,” Bianco shared with ESPN via phone. “He possesses exceptional physical and mental qualities. I acknowledge that he hasn’t been the starter yet, but observing his actions and presence on the mound in the SEC… his composure and self-belief are truly remarkable.”
Despite the focus of the SEC being on Arch Manning, a first-year full-time starter, Simmons emerges as one of the league’s most crucial figures for 2025. He has the potential to become one of the nation’s breakout players if his tangible skills and intangible qualities successfully transition to a larger platform.
“I simply desire for people to grasp that there will be many more moments of this nature,” Simmons stated.
When asked why, he responded directly: “I simply recognize that I am made for this.”
The actions of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin demonstrate his belief in this outcome. Simmons displayed enough talent in his two seasons as a reserve to deter the renowned Portal King, as Kiffin is known, from entering the top-tier quarterback market this offseason.
Upon initially viewing Simmons’ throwing motion on film, Kiffin immediately noticed his smooth left-handed delivery and commented: “He simply possesses that Tua-like quality.”
“There is absolutely no way to instruct any of that,” Kiffin remarked regarding Simmons and Tua Tagovailoa, his former quarterback at Alabama, a left-handed player currently with the Miami Dolphins. “They simply possess it.”
This unique ability aligns with an unconventional journey that refined his exceptional arm talent. Simmons completed high school two years ahead of schedule and has already graduated from Ole Miss this spring with a degree in multidisciplinary studies. According to Bianco, if he had solely concentrated on baseball, Simmons would have been a highly sought-after pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
Simmons, 19, has, in many respects, been prepared for this moment throughout his life. His father, Dave, a former college and professional coach, provided him with intensive training in both football and baseball.
Simmons is the third of seven brothers, ranging in age from 30 to 6. The first six are left-handed, and Simmons mentioned that the youngest brother, Nathan, has yet to declare a dominant hand: “He is still quite young and attempting to figure it out,” Austin Simmons explained. “He wants to throw with both hands, so he is unable to choose one.”
There exists a paradox for Simmons as he prepares to make his first start in his college football career. His entire journey has been meticulously planned for nearly a decade; however, he is only commencing his starting role in his third year of college.
“I genuinely feel as though it is merely the commencement because I am only now reaching my potential,” he stated. “This marks my inaugural year truly showcasing myself, and, frankly, no one truly knows who I am until that first SEC game. Therefore, I eagerly await experiencing that moment and demonstrating to everyone who I am.”
GEORGIA COACH KIRBY Smart is not known for exaggeration. When Simmons’ relief football appearance from the fall is mentioned to him, it becomes evident that the 10-play drive from eight months prior is etched in his memory.
“He entered the game with ice in his veins,” Smart remarked. “He exhibited no hesitation and performed exceptionally well.”
Considering his eagerness to enroll in college two years early, it may seem counterintuitive to commend his patience. However, he has demonstrated precisely that by waiting for his opportunity in football and developing behind Dart.
And now that his opportunity has arrived, he possesses a self-assurance and command that stem from a lifetime of preparation for this moment. Simmons’ father, Dave, has carefully designed his athletic training to optimize his abilities in both football and baseball.
Dave Simmons is inclined to use hyperbole and estimates that Austin Simmons dedicated nearly eight hours per day to playing or practicing football and baseball, training for them, or engaging in activities such as treatment and stretching to enhance performance throughout his upbringing.
He asserts that Ole Miss is actually more manageable for his son now that he has relinquished baseball this spring and is solely concentrating on one sport. “He has genuinely been conditioned to be a professional athlete,” Dave Simmons stated.
Austin Simmons expresses that ceasing to play baseball has been “amazing,” as he states, “Less stress on my arm.”
In contemporary college football, the role of a starting quarterback closely resembles that of a professional athlete – encompassing the workload, compensation, and attention. Simmons acknowledges this and affirms that his years of intensive training have equipped him for the scrutiny of the SEC.
He understands that he did not experience the same social life as the majority of teenagers growing up, which was a consequence of the intensity of his regimen.
“Being so invested in two sports, one is occupied throughout the entire year, which essentially eliminates the social life,” Austin Simmons explained. “I am still developing and having social experiences with my teammates, but it is not the same as being out in the real world. Therefore, I am learning at present.”
Simmons does not engage in much social activity outside of his residence in Oxford. He does confess to having a fondness for food and enjoys local establishments such as Toyo, GrillHouse Oxford, and Oxford Burger Company (along with frequent Chipotle visits). For the most part, he remains indoors.
“Typically,” he stated, “I simply find all my tranquility at home.”
This is all part of the preparation for Simmons, who was raised with his father constantly emphasizing a simple message: “If you are a quarterback, you are distinct. Once you comprehend that, you are OK.”
These messages resonated to the point where he navigates the most hostile environments with an unnatural calm. He assures that there is more to come.
“One drive does not truly define me as a quarterback,” Simmons stated. “People will witness precisely how I perform against superior competition.”
LANE KIFFIN WISHES he possessed the ability to accurately depict the manner in which a football leaves Austin Simmons’ left hand. There is a smoothness, a fluidity, and a crispness to its release. While he is uncertain of the precise terminology – “I am certain there are technical terms for it” – he is confident that the natural ability is more innate than learned.
“There is no way to instruct any of that,” Kiffin stated. “I am unknowledgeable about golf, but I wager there are numerous aspects of golf swings where a coach might comment, ‘That individual simply possesses an incredible swing. I am unable to teach it.’ I believe that is analogous to this situation.”
So, what can this natural talent translate to for Simmons and Ole Miss? This question will loom over the SEC race, as Ole Miss is projected to be favored in its initial four games before hosting LSU in late September.
In addition to losing Dart, a three-year starter and eventual first-round pick, Ole Miss returns the least amount of production in the SEC, according to ESPN’s Bill Connelly’s returning production rankings. The team’s leading rusher and receiver, as well as four starting offensive linemen, are no longer with the program.
While uncertainty surrounds Simmons’ supporting cast and experience, there is a strong belief in his talent level and potential. Kiffin marvels at his ability to thread passes into tight spaces, throw from various arm angles, and handle everything that has been presented to him.
Even with the need to bridge the gap between a part-time performer and the spotlight of starting in the SEC, there is confidence that his talent will facilitate the transition.
“It is easier to enter as a reliever, in both pitching and quarterbacking situations, and then transition to becoming the primary player,” Kiffin stated. “Therefore, there is considerable work to be accomplished in that regard, but he does possess a very high ceiling.”
