Shea Patterson has gone from Ole Miss’ most prized 2016 recruit to perhaps its best recruiter for the class of 2017.

The true freshman quarterback gave the Rebels hope for a promising future in a win at No. 8 Texas A&M last week. After a highly disappointing season and possible recruiting sanctions from the NCAA in the works, that’s exactly what Ole Miss needed.

Rebels coach Hugh Freeze said as much during a Monday interview on The Paul Finebaum Show.

The threat of NCAA sanctions, combined with a 3-5 start to a season that began with the Rebels ranked No. 11 in the preseason Associated Press Top 25, created a string of decommitments from Ole Miss prospects.

But with Vanderbilt and Mississippi State — and potentially a bowl game — left on the schedule, the Rebels could salvage a nightmare year into an 8-win season.

Perhaps an even bigger draw for recruits is the chance to play alongside Patterson, who looked every bit the 5-star recruit last Saturday night.