After a pair of seasons serving as the understudy to the program's all-time leading passer, Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons is ready to take the reins.

The redshirt sophomore takes over for Jaxson Dart -- now a member of the New York Giants -- ahead of No. 21 Ole Miss' season opener against Georgia State on Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi.

Simmons, 19, isn't thinking about catching up to Dart's 10,617 passing yards and record 28 program wins. So far, he's just focusing on the new duties.

"The biggest thing I've learned is just accepting everything that comes with the role," Simmons said. "Definitely a lot of adversity, a lot of media talking about me -- just a lot of outside noise that comes with being in this type of position. Really just learning how to handle it over time. Not be

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