The mutual interest between Michigan and Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson has gathered steam in recent days.

Now it appears the Wolverines are the frontrunner to land Patterson, who is looking to transfer following a season in which a knee injury cut short his year, and NCAA sanctions in the form of lost scholarships and a bowl ban have been announced.

Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade reported that the soon-to-be former Ole Miss QB expects to play immediately. Ole Miss has loosened restrictions on transfers, but previously said Patterson could not transfer to an SEC school, or school on Ole Miss’ schedule for two years. It’s unknown how an NCAA waiver would play a role in Patterson’s pending transfer case.

Michigan has dealt with multiple injuries to its quarterbacks this season, but expects to return redshirt freshman quarterbacks Brandon Peters and freshman Dylan McCaffrey. Joe Milton will be an early enrollee freshman.

The Wolverines themselves are also dealing with a quarterback transfer. Wilton Speight, who won the starting job the last two seasons but missed the majority of this season after suffering three broken vertebrae at Purdue, recently announced that he would transfer for his final season. Backup Alex Malzone also announced he plans to transfer.

Patterson has multiple connections to the current Michigan staff and roster. Five years ago, he committed to Arizona, where Matt Dudek, who is now Michigan’s recruiting coordinator, was the Wildcats’ recruiting coordinator. Cesar Ruiz, who was Patterson’s center when the two were at IMG Academy in Florida, is now a right guard at Michigan.

Patterson, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Shreveport, La. completed 64 percent of his passes this season with 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions with 2,259 yards in seven games.