Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson could explore transfer options with the Michigan Wolverines believed to be at the top of his list of options.
Now that the NCAA has levied their sanctions against Ole Miss, quarterback Shea Patterson could be looking for an out. The sophomore quarterback is reportedly exploring his transfer options, according to David Johnson of The Ole Miss Spirit, the Ole Miss site on 247Sports.
Rumors about Patterson potentially transferring has long been a topic of conversation for fans on social media and message boards, but with Ole Miss facing a postseason ban and reduction in scholarships, the rumors could turn to reality.
Johnson’s report says Patterson has been granted permission to talk to other programs about transferring. He signed a permission to contact form which essentially makes him a recruit all over again with him allowed to contact teams and teams allowed to communicate with the Rebels starting quarterback.
Patterson was the nation’s top quarterback recruit in the 2016 cycle, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings and a five-star recruit who was among the top players in his class. He started the last three games of his true freshman season and the first seven games this year before a knee injury cut his season short.
He will have plenty of suitors if he wants to finish his college career elsewhere and Johnson’s report cites the Michigan Wolverines as the favorite. Michigan went through three quarterbacks this season due to injury and poor performance. Wilton Speight, the returning starter who was injured, has already announced his plans to transfer. John O’Korn is out of eligibility. Brandon Peters will return as a redshirt sophomore next year and has starting experience. Redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey is the most talented of the signal-callers in Ann Arbor and expected to start in 2018.
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Should Patterson transfer to Michigan to play for Jim Harbaugh, he would have to sit out the 2018 season per NCAA transfer rules, so he wouldn’t be eligible until 2019. He could also elect to declare for the NFL Draft next year, which wouldn’t be unthinkable, but unlikely considering he wouldn’t have a body of work, outside working with the scout team.
That talk is premature as Patterson is merely exploring his options and not definitively looking to transfer. But if you thought the coaching carousel season was a wild one, the Patterson transfer news could take on a life of its own with teams from across the country vying for his services.