Kiffin keeps cushioning through portal, includes QB Sanders

1:03 PM ET Chris Low Close Chris Low ESPN Senior Author College football press reporter Signed up with

ESPN.com in 2007 Graduate of the University of Tennessee Tom VanHaaren Close

fit in very well there with what they do on offense, their play-action game, the way they take deep shots down the field, Coach Kiffin’s frame of mind and their balance with a terrific running back like Quinshon Judkins,”Sanders said.” It’s just an extremely well-rounded scheme.”Sanders is the 2nd declared quarterback in a week to sign up with Ole Miss. Walker Howard, a previous luxury hire, revealed Wednesday that he was moving from LSU to Ole Miss. Jaxson Dart, who transferred last season

to Ole Miss from USC, is the Rebels’returning starter at quarterback after throwing for 2,974 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022.” There’s always going to be somebody you’re contending versus, whether it’s at this level or the next,”stated Sanders, a four-year starter who accounted for 85 career touchdowns at Oklahoma State.

“It simply helps everyone– the competitors– and I’m going to be the oldest one and will do the very best I can to help those men, even after I leave. “Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Ole Miss lost backup quarterback Luke Altmyer to Illinois, so contributing to the quarterback room this offseason was an important requirement for Kiffin. Howard has 4 years of eligibility remaining, so he sets up the Rebels

for the future in addition to Dart, who still has two years of eligibility.The personnel did not add a high school quarterback in the 2022 and 2023 class, so Kiffin is depending on the transfer market to assist build his quarterback space and now has a few options.Sanders was among the most desired quarterbacks readily available in the portal. Other schools to reveal serious interest consisted of Auburn, UCLA, Baylor, BYU, Kentucky and Virginia Tech, he said. He likewise highlighted that there was no ill will toward Oklahoma State.” I’m delighted to take my shot in a league [

SEC] that remains in a different category, and I’m all set to see what that’s all about,”Sanders stated.”I’ve had 3 different offensive organizers, so it’s not like I’m opposed to playing under brand-new people or new schemes. It’s no disrespect to Oklahoma State,

either. They raised me to be the quarterback I am right now, and I’m grateful for that. It was just time to proceed and try something brand-new.”In the new world of the transfer portal, being able to keep terrific players is just as important as getting them. Judkins, who led the SEC with 1,565 rushing backyards last season as a freshman, might have quickly tested the waters in the portal, but stayed put.”You wish to play with terrific players,”Sanders said. “It’s quite apparent they have actually been able to build their lineup and keep their most talented guys.”Sanders, who was 31-12 as a starter at Oklahoma State, stated he separated the air conditioning joint in his tossing shoulder a month into the 2022 season which he was never completely healthy after the injury.

He said he re-injured his shoulder against Kansas State and missed out on three of Oklahoma State’s final 5 games. The Cowboys went 1-4 throughout that stretch. “It was definitely the most agonizing season I’ve gone through,” Sanders stated.”There were times I believed it was healing and then I ‘d get injured and it would be back to square one once again. I did the very best I might to play through the discomfort.” Sanders’best season came in 2021 when he was called first-team All-Big 12 and led the conference with 3,507 overall backyards(2,839 passing and 668 hurrying ). His multipurpose abilities particularly interested Kiffin, who utilizes his quarterback frequently in the running game. Sanders has 18 profession hurrying goals, but he has also thrown 40 career interceptions.Having seen other flexible quarterbacks move on to different places and have success(USC’s Caleb Williams, Oregon’s Bo Nix and LSU’s Jayden Daniels among others), Sanders stated he’s thrilled about the possibilities in Kiffin’s up-tempo, high-octane scheme.” I have actually been taking a look at their playbook, and the more I look at it, the more I like the freedom they offer their professional athletes to go make plays, “Sanders said.This is the 2nd straight year that Kiffin has actually dipped greatly into the transfer portal. This class, in addition to Sanders and Howard, likewise consists of Washington offensive lineman Victor Curne, Memphis tight end Caden Prieskorn, Texas A&M receiver Chris Marshall, Louisiana Tech receiver Tre Harris and UAB offending lineman Quincy McGee.