Pressure Position

Ole Miss’s highly touted sophomore quarterback is in the spotlight this year.

Written by Eugene Stockstill | Photos Contributed by Ole Miss Athletics | Illustration by Frank Estrada

Ole Miss sophomore Austin Simmons is on the hot seat and in the catbird seat all at the same time. This season’s highly touted starting quarterback, who has received the blessings of both Archie and Eli Manning, has lots of pressure riding on him. The Florida native graduated from high school early, crammed lots of coursework into his first months on campus, earned his undergraduate degree early, too, and successfully subbed some for Jaxson Dart, last year’s QB who was drafted by the New York Giants. A former two-sport athlete, Simmons is studying for his master’s now and will be calling the signals when Ole Miss opens its season against Georgia State. We caught up with him and asked him a few things about life, football and the upcoming season.

Q: how have you stayed grounded over the course of this year and moving into this season?

A: Honestly, I would say it comes down to how I approach days. I’m just happy where I am. Frankly, I’m just looking forward to progressing more and more each and every day, getting better as an overall quarterback and as a leader on the team.

Q: who has helped you the most as you navigate this personal growth and why?

A: Definitely, my quarterback coach at home, Oliver Bozeman. And on top of that, Joe Judge (Ole Miss quarterbacks coach). They’ve actually been some major pieces in the whole journey. Since Joe Judge got here, he’s been my biggest tool. I talk to him on a personal level. He’s just a great person to have when it comes to football. And also, I’ve been with Oliver Bozeman since I was in fourth grade. So that’s been a connection I’ve built over time.

Q: What was it like to be at the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholas State in Thibodaux, Louisiana, this summer?

A: It’s been good being around them and building that connection with them. There’s a lot of history that comes from their family at this university. So it was really just great to be around them and to get to know them as people and just building that connection.

Q: how much have you participated in these hot yoga sessions (with Lane Kiffin)? How has it helped you with conditioning?

A: I’ve only been to a few hot yoga sessions with Coach Kiff, and every single time I went, I felt more alive, more in shape. Being in there for an hour, that really does something to you. I might do them more often.

Q: What did Jaxson Dart mean to your growth?

A: You know, he meant a lot, seeing how he progressed from 2023 up to where he is now with the Giants. It’s great seeing how much he’s grown not just as a player but as a person. I’m just really excited to see where he goes. He’s been one of the great pieces for me to be a better player over time, seeing how he handled adversity and all the stress that came with a starting role.

Q: what were the biggest factors that went into making the decision to set aside baseball for now?

A: It was just really the best decision for me and my family, honestly. I had to set it aside for bigger reasons … stepping up to this new role. I just want to focus on that.

Q: what was the biggest challenge from last year when you were playing both (football and baseball)?

A: Really, it just came down to taking care of my body. My body felt sore. My body had never felt that way before. I think I handled myself differently in high school … It was really stressful.

Q: Do you feel any added pressure at your age, already having your degree and being in this position? Do you feel like it’s more challenging for you than for someone who’s more experienced? 

A: Not necessarily. I’ve really had to do a lot of maturation since I got here, coming here at a young age, being sent into a bigger stage … Setting those two years aside, coming here early … I think that’s helped me grow more not just as a player but as a person, really seeing how I could handle things outside of football, but on top of that, handling the adversity and the pressure that comes with football.

Q: who were your biggest athletic heroes growing up? Why?

A: Definitely, my dad. I’ve been at his hip ever since I’ve been able to walk. Everyone knows me by being next to my dad all the time. Whenever he coached, whenever I played flag football, it was always in a football setting. It really just came down to me falling in love with the game because of him. That love grew more because of Oliver Bozeman, just being around him, as well, and him teaching me the core values of football. Those are my two heroes right there.

Q: what are your plans after you're done playing football?

A: Honestly, I’m not really there yet … I’ll see where life takes me after I’m done playing football, after I’ve put the cleats up. Right now, I’m just focused on going into the season and just having a great season. I’m focused on Georgia State.