One of the highest rated quarterbacks in CFB this season is a Utahn

Michael Penix Jr; Tyler Van Dyke; Shedeur Sanders; Connor Weigman; Jayden Daniels; Jaxson Dart; JJ McCarthy; Caleb Williams; Drake Maye; Drew Allar; Jalen Milroe.

Each of the aforementioned quarterbacks leads a Power Five program. More importantly, though, each are rated among the best signal callers through the first six weekends of the 2023 college football season, per Pro Football Focus.

By and large, it makes sense.

Penix Jr., currently quarterbacks the best offense in the country. Williams is the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Milroe is the latest product of the Alabama factory. McCarthy led Michigan to the College Football Playoff last year and is the unquestioned leader of probably the teams most likely to win the national title this season.

The explanations can go on and on.

One of the listed quarterbacks is not like the others, though, and he’s a Utah native. That would be Dart.

The Ole Miss quarterback is the only QB in the country currently who boasts a rating of 80 or better in pass and run, per PFF’s latest metrics. The sixth highest overall rated QB by PFF this season, Dart has been the single best dual-threat QB in college football.

Traditional numbers bear that out as well, with Dart having thrown for 1,485 yards, 11 touchdowns and just two interceptions so far — completing a career-high 64% of his passes — while also rushing for 269 yards and four touchdowns, averaging a career high 5.3 yards per carry.

The performance was enough to get Dart named SEC Offensive Player of the Week and the Davey O’Brien Award’s quarterback of the week.

“I think Jaxson has played really well,” Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffen said earlier this week. “I think that we didn’t have a lot of help for him with everybody not being healthy at Alabama. He’s done a really good job. Threw the ball really well and was very competitive Saturday. He played great. And his mentality, how he played, jumping over the the guy on the last play of the third quarter is awesome for your team.”

The former Roy and Corner Canyon High School standout just had his best game of the season too, in the Rebels’ victory against LSU last weekend. Dart accounted for five touchdowns in the win — four through the air and another on the ground — tallying 439 yards of offense.

The former four-star recruit and one-time USC Trojan has clearly settled into his role in Oxford, having beaten out Oklahoma State transfer Spencer Sanders for the starting job.

Ole Miss is currently ranked No. 16 in the AP Poll, with 4-1 record, having lost to Alabama on Sept. 23.