Bo Wallace was as inconsistent and turnover-prone as any quarterback in the SEC in 2014, but he also entered the season with more career starts than any other signal caller in the conference. The Rebels will miss Wallace’s experience next season, and although the next signal caller might not be as susceptible to game-changing mistakes, he won’t have as much upside to make game-saving highlights either.

Ole Miss has three candidates to replace Wallace in 2015, and while they all possesses plenty of talent, they also claim their fair share of drawbacks, making the decision regarding next year’s quarterback as difficult as it is important to the future of the program.

2014 quarterback: Bo Wallace, 3,194 yards, 22 TD, 14 INT, 60.1 completion percentage

2015 favorite: Chad Kelly, junior college transfer (if accepted by Ole Miss after recent legal troubles), JUCO stats: 3,906 yards, 47 TD, 8 INT, 66.9 completion percentage

Others involved: Ryan Buchanan, rising redshirt sophomore; DeVante Kincade, rising redshirt sophomore

Level of concern (1-10): 8 — Kelly was the undisputed No. 1 quarterback among the junior college ranks last year, and he showed flashes of brilliance in his brief stint at Clemson in 2013 (he also redshirted at Clemson in 2012). However, for all the talent Kelly possesses, he also brings with him a history of troubling off-the-field issues that could compromise his future regardless of his on-field abilities. He was arrested just four days after signing with Ole Miss, and it’s no guarantee he’ll ever end up playing a down for the Rebels. If he does, he would be head coach Hugh Freeze’s best option at quarterback, but maturity will always be seen as an issue. If legal troubles cost Kelly his shot at Ole Miss, the Rebels would then have to turn to rising redshirt sophomores Kincade and Buchanan, who combined to complete 28 of 42 pass attempts for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception as co-backups in 2014. Neither is proven at the FBS level, and neither could separate himself from the other as reserves last season, indicating both players lack the definitive characteristics of a future star at quarterback.

When it will be decided: The Rebels’ quarterback situation likely won’t be decided until fall camp in August, or at least until the end of the spring practice season. If Kelly makes it to campus he stands to be the odd-on favorite to win the job, but it certainly won’t be handed to him on a silver platter. Both Kincade and Buchanan have experience in the Rebels’ offense, and both have existing relationships with the other members of the Ole Miss offense. Freeze has a big decision to make in choosing a replacement for the SEC’s most experienced signal caller, and he’s going to be thorough in evaluating all three candidates before handing his offense over to one of them.

Biggest ally: The Rebels’ next quarterback will lean on two major allies next season — wideout Laquon Treadwell and left tackle Laremy Tunsil. Both players suffered broken legs during the 2014 season, but both are expected to be healthy by the start of fall camp barring setbacks in their recoveries. Treadwell led Ole Miss in receptions in each of his first two seasons on campus, and he possesses the most big-play potential of any skill player returning to the Ole Miss offense. He has sure hands and presents a large target for quarterbacks to find, and his abilities to stretch the field and win jump balls should make the next quarterback’s job all that much easier. Tunsil is an asset as an All-SEC left tackle charged with protecting the quarterback’s blind side. There might not be an offensive tackle in America slated to return next year with more talent than Tunsil, and his ability to protect a quarterback should help the new signal caller settle in the pocket as he adjusts to life in the SEC.