Ole Miss wants junior college transfer Chad Kelly to win the starting quarterback job.
That’s the only explanation for the fact that Kelly still is on the team despite all the legal trouble and off-field shenanigans that have to keep coach Hugh Freeze awake at night.
But if Kelly wants the job, he’s got to emerge from a competition that could last all the way through the end of August.
RELATED: Previewing the Ole Miss QB competition entering spring practice
Speaking to the media coinciding with the start of spring practice, Freeze told reporters he won’t name a starter before the summer unless there’s a “clear-cut” winner (unlikely). Freeze also said that the team will chart and keep stats on every quarterback drill.
The quarterbacks drew straws to see who would go first in practice, and Ryan Buchanan “won,” but he will share equal reps with Kelly and Devante Kincade.
In another interesting development, Freeze is going to be chaperoning Kelly on spring break, so it seems the Rebels won’t have to contend with the possibility of some sort of alcohol-fueled arrest at a beach situated on the Gulf of Mexico.
Chad Kelly is going to Haiti with Hugh Freeze on a spring break mission trip. Same one Serderius Bryant went on last year.
— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerGLF) March 3, 2015
Asked Hugh Freeze if it was Chad Kelly's call to go to Haiti. "I suggested it. He agreed."
— Hugh Kellenberger (@KellenbergerGLF) March 3, 2015
Some other points of note that emerged from Freeze’s media availability:
- S Trae Elston and WR Damore’ea Stringfellow, arrested in January, will “face consequences” in the fall, likely with some sort of suspension, though Freeze did not provide specifics.
- WR Laquon Treadwell, who recently posted a video sprinting across a field, will be limited in spring practice at least to start. He’s “determined to come back and be better than ever” after a gruesome leg injury, Freeze said.
- LB Denzel Nkemdiche (ankle) will practice full go, great news for the Rebels. LT Laremy Tunsil (leg) just got out of a walking boot last week due to joint damage beyond his fractured fibula and is progressing well, but won’t participate in spring practice. CB Carlos Davis (knee) is out. OL Robert Conyers will be limited, while DB Tee Shepard (toe) will be full go.
- Shepard (a ’14 junior college transfer) and Tony Bridges (a ’15 junior college transfer) are practicing at cornerback right now, while Mike Hilton is playing safety.
- C.J. Johnson, a fifth-year defensive end with 24 career tackles for loss, will get a look at middle linebacker this spring. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Johnson played the position in high school.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
