Team Red was running away with Ole Miss football\u2019s \u2018Grove Bowl Games\u2019 on Saturday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then Joey Chestnut stepped in<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Chestnut, the 16-time winner of the Nathan\u2019s Hot-Dog-Eating Contest, brought Navy back by subbing in and taking down 20 hot dogs.<\/p>\n \u201cChestnut\u2019s a dog,\u201d Ole Miss senior defensive lineman JJ Pegues said<\/a><\/strong>. Pegues was a captain for Navy. \u201cLiterally a Hot Dog King, that\u2019s why I didn\u2019t go up against him.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWe just took it like a pro mindset. That\u2019s what we always talk about around here. We did pretty good. It was a great day overall. I mean, it was the first time ever doing it, which is an honor. I feel like everything went well. Feel great.\u201d<\/p>\n Dart was one of the many high-profile Rebels who took it easy this spring for precautionary reasons\/to recover from injury\/a little bit of both. <\/p>\n However, he still found a way to stay engaged, including throwing himself into the \u2018Games.\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt was a little bit different of a spring for me than I\u2019ve had in my college career,\u201d Dart said. \u201cJust going through and trying to get healthy from an injury, I think it gave me a different perceptive as a leader. Trying to be as involved as I can without being hands-on. Mentally, it was a big growing period for me. That part of it was very beneficial. With the new guys, it\u2019s been great.\u201d<\/p>\n Dart came in at No. 6 when ranked in February by Pro Football Focus<\/a><\/strong> as one of the Top 10 returning QBs in college football for 2024. He was third in the SEC in passing yards (3,364) last season. His 24 touchdowns were tied for fourth.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really fun,\u201d Dart said of the spring. Ole Miss will practice one final time on Monday. \u201cThe whole team was involved in every activity, which made it super fun. I\u2019m pretty positive you\u2019ll see more of that from other teams going forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Pegues, Chestnut, Dart and head coach Lane Kiffin all met the media following the event-filled day. Here\u2019s everything they had to say.\u00a0<\/p>\n WATCH: First iteration of \u2018Grove Bowl Games\u2019 a hit for Ole Miss football<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nRed still came out on top, 71-70, but the \u2018Games\u2019 were a hit for all involved, even senior quarterback Jaxson Dart.<\/h2>\n
Dart is in his third season as Ole Miss starter.\u00a0<\/h2>\n