Lewis: Freeze Brings Consistency to Rebels’ QB Slot

Photo by Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics.

It has been more than 10 years since former Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning capped off a 10-3 senior season with a Cotton Bowl win before riding off into the sunset. When Manning’s Ole Miss career ended so too did the consistency of the quarterback position.

After Eli and before Hugh Freeze took over in Oxford, Ole Miss would go through one more season with David Cutcliffe, three with Ed Orgeron and four with Houston Nutt. In that eight-year span, the Rebels would start 11 different players at the quarterback position. If you think that is a crazy number, think about this. In former linebacker DT Shackelford’s time on the team, he saw seven different starting quarterbacks suit up for the Rebels.

Devane Kincade is one of three options for the starting quarterback spot in August.
Photo by Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics.

Over the course of that eight-season span, quarterbacks were transferring in and transferring out. Some even quit the game with eligibility left to play. With the exception of Jevan Snead’s back to back nine-win seasons, the quarterback carousel brought on losing season after losing season.

When things seem to be at their worst for the Rebels, enter Hugh Freeze.

Freeze came onto the scene and made a lot of big time moves in the recruiting game. Perhaps none were more important to the program than landing Bo Wallace.

Freeze has been here three seasons and has started one guy at quarterback. In doing so, he brought back some consistency to the position and the Rebels are winning.

Now it is Wallace’s turn to ride off into the sunset leaving Freeze and the Rebels with a very big hole to fill.

Three quarterbacks battled this spring and that competition will carry on throughout the summer and into the fall.

This is a big deal. Not only is the winner of this competition replacing a three-year starter, but they are going to be playing a position that has been reserved for some of the game’s greatest. Yes, it is true that no one player is more important than the other but we are talking about something different. We are talking about the quarterback of the Ole Miss Rebels.

This competition will have an impact on the history of Ole Miss Football. This will decide what jersey number you see on countless kids running around the Grove on Saturdays. This will decide how stories are told years from now. For example, 20 years from now, people will remember where they were when Bo Wallace led the Rebels over the top-ranked Tide in 2014.

Who will be the new face?

Chad Kelly transferred into the Rebel program this year for a chance to lead Ole Miss.
Photo by Joshua McCoy, Ole Miss Athletics.

Will it be transfer Chad Kelly? Kelly has the tools to run the Hugh Freeze offense. Yes, he has a checkered past and some say he may be a little wild. Similar comments were made about Bo Wallace and he left the program as a record holder.

Will it be Devante Kincade out of Texas? Kincade chose the Rebels out of high school and has done all that has been asked of him over the past two seasons. He throws well and runs well. On paper, Kincade looks like a good fit.

Will it be Ryan Buchanan? The Mississippi kid who chose to stay in state rather than head off to Florida or Alabama. He is nothing flashy but he is consistent and he is a leader. When is the last time a Mississippi kid chose the Rebels out of high school and went onto to be their quarterback on Saturdays?

Freeze will find the right man one way or another out of these three competitors. For now, the 2015 Rebels will wait to find out who will win this competition. Who do you think it will be?

Webb Lewis of Southern Elite Sports Media is a HottyToddy.com contributor and can be reached at sesmississippi@gmail.com.