Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly to Undergo Season Ending Surgery

Chad Kelly in game against Georgia Southern Photo by Joshua McCoy courtesy Ole Miss Athletics

Ole Miss senior quarterback Chad Kelly suffered a torn ACL and torn lateral meniscus in Saturday’s game against Georgia Southern. He will undergo season-ending surgery this week.

Kelly went to the locker room after getting hit with 9 minutes remaining in the 3rd quarter of Saturday’s game, and later returned to the sideline, however, Kelly did not re-enter the game. The Rebels also lost senior DE John Youngblood to an ankle injury early in the game. Coach Freeze tweeted out his support for both of his senior leaders.

Kelly was replaced by Jason Pellerin, who has served as a change of pace in the Rebels rushing attack for most of the season. Pellerin will now likely be called upon to lead the Rebel offense for the remainder of the season.

Kelly has accounted for an SEC-high 3,090 total yards this season and has set numerous Ole Miss records in just two seasons with the Rebels. Kelly finishes the 2016 season with 2,758 and 19 TDs. Kelly was also the 2nd leading rusher for Rebels with 332 yards and 5 TDs on the ground. 

This news comes as the latest blow to a season that did not go as planned for the Rebels, who now sit at 4-5, with bowl eligibility no guarantee for the defending Sugar Bowl Champions. The Rebels must now get Pellerin ready to face Texas A&M, who will undoubtedly come out with a chip on their shoulder after being upset by Mississippi State on Saturday. Another road test the following week comes against an improved Vanderbilt team in Nashville, all leading up to the Egg Bowl here in Oxford. Kelly’s injury certainly leaves the Rebels in a difficult situation down the final stretch of this disappointing season. 

We will continue to update this story as we receive more information. 

Steven Gagliano is a writer for HottyToddy.com. He can be reached at steven.gagliano@hottytoddy.com.

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