Austin Simmons, just 19, is stepping into the spotlight at Ole Miss, preparing to lead the Rebels this fall as the starting quarterback. A Miami native, Simmons is replacing first-round NFL Draft pick Jaxson Dart, making his rise sudden and significant.
Despite not yet taking a snap under center, he’s already well known in Oxford, where football reigns supreme and quarterbacks are held in high regard. Simmons, who fast-tracked his academics, will graduate May 10 with a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies. He earned a staggering 5.34 GPA, completing college two years early.
Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons Reveals Why He’s Stepping Away From Baseball Season In 2025
Simmons has made a decision that most athletes his age only dream of facing—choosing between two elite-level careers. A left-handed pitcher capable of hitting 96 mph on the radar gun, Simmons will step away from baseball in 2025 to fully commit to his role as the starting quarterback at Ole Miss.
The decision was difficult, especially for someone immersed in the sport since childhood.
“It was an emotional decision,” Simmons said. “Being a part of this forever since I was six—you know, that’s something you don’t really toss aside pretty easily.”
Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons is a left-handed pitcher who can throw 96 MPH, but decided to pause his baseball career:
“A lot really went into it… I felt I had a better opportunity in football.” @austnsimmons x @Andy_Staples x @AriWasserman tomorrow AM at 9:30 EST🦈 pic.twitter.com/OpTLxAZQRo
— On3 (@On3sports) May 8, 2025
Simmons’ baseball pedigree is substantial. He threw back-to-back no-hitters and batted .365 as a freshman. His rise in both sports was carefully engineered by his father, David Simmons, a former Arena Football League player and coach.
With concerns that Simmons may not reach the height required for a college quarterback, his father initially emphasized baseball, beginning his training as a pitcher early. To maximize his potential, he took high school classes while still in middle school and trained alongside NFL athletes to build a versatile skill set.
That academic acceleration allowed Simmons to enroll in dual-credit courses at Miami Dade College, where he earned an associate’s degree before turning 17. He then obtained a bachelor’s degree in multidisciplinary studies at Ole Miss and is poised to start for Lane Kiffin’s Rebels two years ahead of schedule.
Still, walking away from baseball wasn’t a spontaneous decision.
“A lot really went into it,” Simmons said. “It was just the thought of where I was going at the University of Ole Miss… where I wanted to achieve my goals at. I felt as though I had a better opportunity in football. I just did what’s best for me and my family.”
David Simmons’s intense approach to development shaped Simmons’s path.
KEEP READING: Ole Miss Football QB Depth Chart: With Jaxson Dart Gone, Austin Simmons Predicted To Lead Rebels Offense
“I don’t give them time off. I don’t give them any exits,” he said. “We go to school on Christmas. I don’t care about Christmas, I don’t care about Easter, I don’t care about none of that. We don’t miss days.”
Now standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 215 pounds, Simmons has defied early doubts about his size and is stepping into the SEC spotlight. Football is no longer just a better opportunity—it’s the priority for him.
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