Jaxson Dart Expects To Have a Big Game Against UCLA
Allen Wallace
Jaxson Dart ready to lead USC in his first start
Adam Grosbard (OC Register) — LOS ANGELES — Practice had been over for about 20 minutes, but Jaxson Dart had yet to leave the field. His shoulder pads and helmet were in a pile as he continued to throw routes with his roommate, Michael Jackson III.
When the extra work was done, Dart collected his things and went over to address the media for the first time as USC’s starting quarterback.
Dart will start on Saturday against UCLA, the first Trojans quarterback to make his first career start against the Bruins since Scott Tinsley in 1980.
“I wouldn’t really expect my first start to be in a rivalry game like this, with all the emotions and just the history of it all,” Dart said Tuesday. “So I’m just super excited for the opportunity and I’m ready to go attack it.”
The true freshman will get the job to himself this week after splitting duties the previous two games with three-year starter Kedon Slovis. Slovis injured his lower leg in the loss to Arizona State, and even with a week off due to the Cal postponement, Slovis was not able to return to practice on Tuesday.
With his outlook cloudy – interim head coach Donte Williams didn’t rule out the possibility of Slovis missing the rest of the season – the decision was made on Sunday to name Dart the starter this week.
“I let him know, and right away he knew he had to step his game up as far as being a leader,” Williams said. “That’s what he’s done.”
For their part, Dart’s older teammates have been impressed with the freshman’s energy and confidence since he arrived on campus back in January. Receiver Gary Bryant Jr. says Dart is constantly encouraging players, even after mistakes, and even on the defensive side of the ball.
Running back Keaontay Ingram even went so far Tuesday as to predict that Dart will win the Heisman Trophy one day.
“Everybody loves him. He’s just an outgoing guy. You don’t get that too much,” Ingram said. “He’s been like that since he stepped on campus. Everyone can feel it too. When you’re the face of the organization, people feed off of that.”
Dart was largely limited in his last two appearances. Following meniscus surgery in September, USC called up a steady diet of screen passes rather than downfield shots, and he wasn’t called upon to use his dual-threat speed.
In the two games, Dart went 20-of-35 for 198 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
But Dart said that after the unexpected bye week and the extra repetitions in practice without splitting time with Slovis, he feels as healthy and as in-tune with the offense as he’s been since the injury.
“He’s obviously younger and has a little bit less experience, but he’s still, I think he knows the offense and especially this week the game plan I think he knows really well,” offensive coordinator Graham Harrell said. “So I expect him to execute at a high level.”
That’s what Dart did in his first extended appearance, when he took over against Washington State when Slovis injured his neck. After shaking off early turnovers, Dart’s 391-yard, four-touchdown performance led the Trojans on a 45-point run to win the game.
USC fans were clearly enamored with Dart after that game. When the freshman made his Coliseum debut three weeks ago against Arizona, fans roared when his name was announced and as he led the Trojans on a scoring drive.
But despite the high bar he created, Dart doesn’t view that attention as pressure.
“I’ve always kind of felt like I’ve put the most pressure on myself,” Dart said. “I hold myself to a high standard and I want to perform to the highest of my abilities. So my expectation is to have a big game.”
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