News and notes from Hugh Freeze’s Monday press conference
By Kevin Duffey
Published:
Ole Miss is embarking upon an important season in Oxford.
The Rebels’ program has been ever improving under Hugh Freeze, and Freeze and his staff expect another big season, especially with Chad Kelly returning.
Monday, Freeze spoke to the media about Saturday’s practice. Most notably absent from Saturday was Kelly. Freeze confirmed he didn’t take any snaps, leaving true freshman Shea Patterson plenty of snaps. Patterson, of course, was the country’s top quarterback in the 2016 recruiting class and enrolled early at Ole Miss. It’s certainly not likely he’ll be needed this year, assuming Kelly stays healthy, but it’s important to get him snaps and get him comfortable and ready to take the reigns of the offense in 2017.
So, what did Freeze think about Patterson’s performance Saturday?
“Pleased,” Freeze told reporters Monday. “Shea’s not a normal freshman. He’s got a good understanding of the game, but there’s still times that it moves a little fast for him, because everything’s new. You’re installing stuff each day.
“Chad didn’t take any snaps Saturday, and I thought those two [Patterson and Jason Pellerin] handled it fairly well.”
Freeze also commented on Breeland Speaks’ March 4 DWI arrest, and Speaks’ status for the season opener is unknown.
“Breeland’s practicing. He’s ready to go, as normal,” Freeze said. “There are consequences, and I have them laid out. I’ve told him what they are, but when I discipline my three girls, I don’t tell everybody what that is. I try to keep it that way because they’re like my kids. You don’t stop loving your kids when they make a poor choice or a bad decision, but there are consequences. He’ll handle them. He knows it was a mistake, and he’s well aware of it.”
A graduate of the University of Florida and founder of Saturday Down South, Kevin is a college football enthusiast.
