Former Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders is making the move to Ole Miss, the senior announced on Twitter. By signing with the Rebels under coach Lane Kiffin, Sanders joins a loaded quarterback room that includes acting starter Jaxson Dart and former four-star prospect Walker Howard, who just transferred from LSU this week. Sanders, who entered the transfer portal on Dec. 5 after four years as the Cowboys’ signal caller, also had Auburn in mind according to ESPN.
“I’m going to come in and work my dick off either way whether the room is full or not,” Sanders told 247Sports. “That’s just my way of thinking. I’ve always had an attitude of competing, racing and striving for better. I’ve never been afraid of competition. I won’t start now.”
Sanders threw for 9,553 yards, 67 touchdowns and 40 interceptions in 43 games for Oklahoma State, adding 1,956 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground. He was an All-Big 12 first-team pick in 2021 after throwing for 2,839 yards, rushing for 668 yards and 26 touchdowns (20 passes).
His career achievements are put to the test at Oxford. Dart is a rising junior who threw for 2,974 yards, rushed for 614 yards and totaled 21 touchdowns in his freshman year as an Ole Miss starter. Howard, a redshirt freshman with four years remaining in eligibility, saw action in two games for the Tigers last season, including the Citrus Bowl’s 63-7 win over Purdue, in which he caught 2 of 4 passes for 7 yards on cleanup duty graduated .
However, Dart’s 11 interceptions were a concern. Has this inconsistency in the passing game caused Kiffin to dive headfirst into the transfer quarterback market? It is possible. Whatever spurned the frenzy, it’s fair to say that Kiffin creates the “Hunger Games” for high-profile college quarterbacks. Howard still has a lot of qualifications left, so sitting behind Dart and Sanders and learning the system in preparation for earning the starting job one day isn’t the worst idea in the world. However, Dart and Sanders have a lot of experience as starting quarterbacks, and there is only one football for the round.
“I have a lot of confidence,” said Sanders. “I firmly believe in myself. My money is with me every time. So I wasn’t too concerned about how the quarterback room looks. I have pretty good experience. I was in the game for four years. I feel like I have a small advantage.