Former Corner Canyon Charger Jaxson Dart is now a Giant.
Dart, who in 2020 led Canyon District’s Corner Canyon High to a state football championship, was selected by New York in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft.
Big Blue, after picking defensive end Abdul Carter with the No. 3 overall pick, traded the No. 34 and 99 picks in this year’s NFL draft, in addition to a 2026 third-round pick, to get back into the first round to draft quarterback Dart, who was the National Gatorade Player of the Year, the Deseret News’ Mr. Football, and the MaxPreps National Football Player of the Year after his senior season at CCHS.
“Extremely happy for Jaxson and his family. Dreams came true tonight,” Charger Coach Eric Kjar said following the Giants’ announcement on Thursday night. “No one deserves this more than Jaxson. Fantastic player, person, and teammate.”
After graduating from Corner Canyon, where he completed 67 passing touchdowns in his senior season, Dart headed to the University of Southern California to hit the gridiron for the Trojans. Then, he transferred to the University of Mississippi, where he became the primary starter across the final three seasons of his collegiate career.
As an Ole Miss Rebel, Dart broke eight school records, including most wins by a starting quarterback, and led the team to wins at the Peach and Gator Bowls. He also was the 2025 Gator Bowl Most Valuable Player.
Dart was a first-team All-SEC selection by the coaches and a finalist for the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The business major also was honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as one of 16 2024 National Football Foundation Scholar-Athletes.
“I like his competitive fire,” Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll said, per NFL.com. “I like his accuracy. I like his ability to push the ball down the field, his athletic ability to run with the football. … I think this guy’s got better every year he’s played. He’s a leader. He was smart. He has the attributes that we were looking for. Excited to have him. Look forward to getting him in the room. He’s got a lot to learn. It’ll be a process here with him, but he’s a guy we look forward to working with.”
The first-round selection by the Giants made Dart the highest NFL draft pick of a player from Utah since fellow Corner Canyon product and BYU QB Zach Wilson went No. 2 to the New York Jets in 2021.
In addition to being a Charger, Dart has another, more personal connection to Canyons District: Hillcrest High Assistant Principal Katie Campbell is his supportive aunt.
On Thursday afternoon, Campbell said Dart, who chose to spend Thursday with family instead of traveling to Green Bay for the televised draft announcements, was “excited that draft day is here.”
“He sees that as the beginning of his journey and he is ready to bring everything he has to whatever team he plays for,” Campbell said. “Jaxson is the ultimate competitor. He has worked hard every single day to achieve his goal to play in the NFL. This has been his dream since he was a little kid. He is excited, as we all are, to see this dream come true.”
Campbell said that Dart’s time in the spotlight was earned by putting in the hard yards.
“I think every student who has a dream should go for it. If they can look at Jaxson’s experience and see that it is more than just talent — it takes hard work, grit, endurance and working through the challenges to achieve those dreams,” she said. “Jaxson’s journey to the NFL has come with some bumps in the road. Jaxson has continued to put in the work, trust those around him and find a path that led him to USC and then to Ole Miss and now to Draft Day.”
Campbell traveled to Oxford games to cheer Dart’s scrambles and TDs. Next stop: MetLife Stadium.
“Jaxson has a level of confidence that I think comes from knowing that he has put in the work and trusts his teammates. Jaxson loved being a Charger with dedicated fans. Multiply that intensity by 100 and that’s what it feels like in the college stadiums. This seemed to pump him up and get him charged for the game,” Campbell says. “I have had season passes to Ole Miss and will continue to support and celebrate Jaxson and whatever team he plays for.”
