Daniels: Ole Miss Quarterback Battle Heats Up

Pictured, from left, are quarterback contenders DeVante Kincade, Ryan Buchanan and Chad Kelly.
Photos Courtesy of Joshua McCoy/ Ole Miss Athletics

Oxford is buzzing from the Beacon to Handy Andy and from the Square to the Grove wondering who will be the starting quarterback for the Rebels this season.

Will it be the big-name Chad Kelly or will Ryan Buchanan or DeVante Kincade step up and take the reins as the leader of the offense? The talk and excitement began with the word of Kelly coming to Oxford.

With the battle so tight in measuring their stats this spring and summer, and with the fact that they all bring different components to the game, the decision will be tough.

DeVante Kincade is seen by experts and even fans as the guy who is trailing both Kelly and Buchanan in the quarterback race. The sophomore quarterback has not seen a lot of action for the Rebels, as he was redshirted during the 2013 season and played briefly in eight games last season with no starts.

Kincade showed good accuracy in his outings last season. In 2014, Kincade went 16/20 with 127 yards and a touchdown through the air. On the ground, he rushed 28 times for 95 yards and a touchdown. When I watch Kincade play, he really reminds me of former Auburn quarterback Nick Marshall. Like Marshall, Kincade is a guy built to run the spread offense, which Ole Miss would like to do. He is a true mobile quarterback who has the arm and the accuracy to take shots down the field.
Hugh Freeze has been quoted as saying that Ryan Buchanan is slightly in the lead. The sophomore quarterback arrived in Oxford in 2013 and was redshirted that year as well. With the offense that Freeze runs, the quarterback is going to have to take shots down the field.

Buchanan, the pro-style quarterback, may not be the guy with the ability for that as much as his competition. The element that makes Buchanan such a good quarterback is his ability to make smart decisions with the football. He can avoid sacks by dumping it off to a running back in the flats or simply throwing it away. Last offseason, Buchanan spent time and worked out with quarterback guru George Whitfield. Buchanan had little action last season as he got in at quarterback five times. He completed 12 of 22 passes last season with an interception.He continued to show struggles in the Spring Game as he went 5/16. While Buchanan is comfortable as a pocket passer, our questions at offensive line may require a quarterback who is more mobile.

Fans have shown mixed emotions toward the junior college transfer Chad Kelly. Some fans love him and are excited about him being in Oxford, but some believe that he will continue to get in trouble. Kelly went on a mission trip to Haiti to spend time with his team and coaches. I believe that he will take the arrest in Buffalo and put that behind him.

Chad Kelly has shown similarities to his uncle, Jim Kelly, in their physical play. Unlike Jim Kelly, Chad Kelly isn’t just a pocket passer. He likes to move around and get yards on the ground as well, The dual-threat quarterback transferred to Ole Miss from East Mississippi Community College, where he led them to the NJCAA National Championship,

Last season, Kelly was outstanding, but as we all know, the SEC will be much tougher. I still believe that he will be able to compete at the SEC level. Kelly went 303/453 for 3,906 yards, 47 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He also ran for 446 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Like Buchanan, Kelly has also spent time with George Whitfield.

All of these quarterbacks have very likable components and unarguably one of the most exciting receiving corps in the conference. Freeze will continue to let this battle go until someone has clearly broken away from the pack. Having these three quarterbacks is a plus for Freeze and the offense, making it difficult for defensive preparation. I believe that it will come down to Chad Kelly or Ryan Buchanan. I think we will see a lot of DeVante Kincade because he is too good of an athlete to just stand on the sidelines. We can use him like we used Barry Brunetti in quarterback runs and in the Wild Rebel. In my opinion, with the season opener, we will see Chad Kelly taking the snaps.

Grant Daniels, a student at Oxford High School, is sports correspondent for HottyToddy.com. Email him at hottytoddynews@gmail.com