Hugh Freeze on how Shea Patterson is affecting Ole Miss' recruiting efforts
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.
"To have a chance to finish the year with momentum going into recruiting is impossible for me to understate" – @OleMissFB HC Hugh Freeze pic.twitter.com/26CWYq9OJd
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 14, 2016
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.