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Three Battle For Ole Miss Backup QB Job
At the end of the 2014 Grove Bowl, the Ole Miss football team closed spring practice on a high note.
Now fans are looking ahead to the 2014/15 season and the schedule opener against Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kick-Off Game in Atlanta.
One question HottyToddy.com asked or readers at the start of spring football was who was most likely to take charge as the No. 2 quarterback behind Bo Wallace this season. During the whole of March Devante Kincade, Ryan Buchanan and Jeremy Liggins all made nice strides attempting to fill the shoes of Barry Brunetti.
Lets look at each one a little closer.
Devante Kincade during warmups at the Grove Bowl.
Kincade this spring looked to be the guy who understands the offense and could move the ball down the field with precision. Not to mention the youngster’s amazingly quick feet, that allow him to scoot around the pocket and elude frustrated defenders.
In the Grove Bowl, Kincade completed 5-8 passes for 57 yards. One of those attempts was for a touchdown. Kincade also carried the ball six times for 38 yards. His longest run from scrimmage was for 13 yards.
Ryan Buchanan surveys the field under Coach Freeze’s watchful gaze.
Buchanan has shown great maturity in coach Hugh Freeze’s system as a true pocket quarterback. He displayed impressive zip on the ball all spring.
During Grove Bowl action, Buchanan completed six of the ten passes for 100 yards. His longest pass from scrimmage went 45 yards.
A surprisingly nimble for his size Jeremy Liggins throws the ball down field.
Liggins provides and extra weapon for this Ole Miss offense. He can pass with authority, but he is almost impossible for one man to bring down in the open field. Around the goal line he could prove to be a real weapon — an area the Rebels struggled in last year. In the Grove Bowl, he completed three of his nine attempts for a total of 16 yards.
Liggins advanced the football on the ground as he gained 21 yards on six attempts. On one particularly awe-inspiring scamper, it took five defenders to take him off his feet.
Once fall practice starts, the No. 2 spot at quarterback will be a fascinating race to watch. All three backups have real potential as well as something to offer and improvements to make.
–Adam Brown, sports editor of HottyToddy.com
Photos by Andy Knef, editor of HottyToddy.com
| Sat, Aug 31 |  | vs Furman | W, 76-0 |
| Sat, Sep 7 |  | vs Middle Tennessee | W, 52-3 |
| Sat, Sep 14 |  | @ Wake Forest | W, 40-6 |
| Sat, Sep 21 |  | vs Georgia Southern | W, 52-13 |
| Sat, Sep 28 |  | vs Kentucky | L, 20-17 |
| Sat, Oct 5 |  | @ South Carolina | W, 27-3 |
| Sat, Oct 12 |  | vs LSU | L, 29-26 (2 OT) |
| Sat, Oct 26 |  | vs Oklahoma | W, 26-14 |
| Sat, Nov 2 |  | @ Arkansas | W, 63-35 |
| Sat, Nov 16 |  | vs Georgia | 2:30 PM ABC |
| Sat, Nov 23 |  | @ Florida | 11:00 AM ABC or ESPN |
| Sat, Nov 30 |  | vs Mississippi State | 2:30 PM ESPN or ABC |
Calvinator77
April 16, 2014 at 11:17 pm
IMHO, Kincade is the man. Mobile QBs with strong arms are simply more productive in the college game than pure pocket guys, unless you have a flawlessly dominant O-line. Plus he fits Freeze’s offensive style better. Just one man’s opinion….