Ole Miss' Austin Simmons all in on football over baseball. What it means for Lane Kiffin, Mike Bianco

Ole Miss’ Austin Simmons all in on football over baseball. What it means for Lane Kiffin, Mike Bianco

Posted by Admin January 18, 2025 Football

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OXFORD — Ole Miss football quarterback Austin Simmons is going all-in on football.

Simmons will not be on the 2025 Ole Miss baseball roster. He was a left-handed pitcher who made 13 appearances as a freshman last season. Simmons had a 2-0 record and a 3.21 ERA.

“After having a conversation with (Ole Miss baseball coach Mike) Bianco, Austin Simmons is no longer on the baseball roster so that he can concentrate on playing football,” Ole Miss baseball said in a statement.

With Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss’ all-time passing leader, set to depart, Simmons is the likely starter for the 2025 season. Simmons, a redshirt freshman this season, was Dart’s backup. Simmons passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns on 19-for-32 passing. His best moment came against Georgia. Simmons led a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive.

Here’s how his decision to pass on playing baseball impacts Ole Miss:

Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss football benefit from Austin Simmons dropping baseball

By not playing baseball, Simmons is lowering his injury risk.

Simmons was hurt playing baseball last season while pitching against Alabama. He left an April 25 game after throwing four pitches due to a UCL injury in his left throwing elbow. He later recovered in time to win the No. 2 Ole Miss football quarterback position.

The 2025 football depth chart has questions behind Simmons. The Rebels recently landed Louisville transfer Pierce Clarkson. Freshman AJ Maddox, junior Justin Kowalak and junior Braden Waterman round out the room. Of those players, Simmons has show the most upside.

Mike Bianco, Ole Miss baseball lose a solid bullpen reliever

Bianco and the Ole Miss baseball team have lost a solid bullpen arm.

Simmons’ 3.21 ERA was the second-best on the team in 2024. He had 20 strikeouts, 11 walks and did not allow a home run.

The Rebels are getting some left-handed pitching firepower back this season in Hunter Elliott. The star Ole Miss pitcher missed all of 2024 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He opted to return to Ole Miss, even after being selected late in the MLB Draft.

Elliott made 12 starts and eight relief appearances in his electric freshman year in 2022. He had a 2.70 ERA and 102 strikeouts and earned 2022 Freshman All-American from Perfect Game and D1 Baseball.

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter at @Sam_Hutchens_