The road to the University of Michigan has been a long one for Shea Patterson, who was once regarded as the best pro-style quarterback in his class during his time at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. His first stop on his college journey was Ole Miss, where it did not take long for him to crack the starting lineup.
Patterson was supposed to redshirt his freshman season, but when starter Chad Kelly tore his ACL, he was forced into action. He played well as a freshman for the Rebels, but due to an NCAA investigation into the school, the program imposed on themselves a ban from playing any postseason football.
In 2017, Patterson entered the season as the clear starter at quarterback, and rightfully so. In his seven games, before injuring himself against LSU in October, Patterson passed for over 2,200 yards in seven games, including two games to start the season that really put him on the map when it came to the quarterback position.
Against two cupcakes in South Alabama and UT Martin, Patterson threw for 918 yards and nine touchdowns, with his 489 yards against UT Martin setting a school record for single-game passing yards. However, the team would struggle the rest of the way, and after the NCAA came down with a postseason ban for 2018, Patterson sought his release from the school.
The NCAA granted his transfer, and based on the fact that Ole Miss apparently lied to him about the bans, he is eligible to play right away for Michigan. He is nothing like Jim Harbaugh has ever coached with the Wolverines, and you can expect him to lead Michigan to a special season in 2018.