Ole Miss Football: Chad Kelly out for remainder of season

An MRI on Sunday, revealed that Ole Miss quarterback, Chad Kelly would miss the remainder of the 2016 season with a knee injury.

For two seasons Ole Miss relied on Chad Kelly, and boy did he deliver with many amazing plays. He was the catalyst for the 2015 season, which was Ole Miss’ best season since 2003, when Kelly helped to lead the Rebels to a 10-3 record and a Sugar Bowl win. Kelly established himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the country and one of the best in Ole Miss history. For Kelly, the 2016 season and his college career at Ole Miss, are over. Kelly tore his ACL and lateral meniscus in the Rebels 37-27 win over Georgia Southern on Saturday, as confirmed by multiple media outlets.

#OleMiss has released a statement on Chad Kelly confirming a torn ACL and a torn lateral meniscus. pic.twitter.com/HlXIVZDQrM

— Ben Garrett (@SpiritBen) November 7, 2016

Kelly had been one of the bright spots for an underwhelming and disappointing 2016 Ole Miss team. Kelly had thrown for 2,758 yards and thrown 19 touchdown passes, as well as 332 yards rushing and another 5 touchdowns on the ground as the signal caller for the Rebels this season. The Rebels quarterback will now have to have surgery and then go through rehab, as well as do what he can in pursuit of being drafted and playing in the NFL.

The rest of the season for Ole Miss just got more interesting as the Rebels backup quarterback, Jason Pellerin, has very little in game experience and his first start would be next week on the road against Texas A&M, not the most ideal situation for breaking in a new quarterback, which head coach Hugh Freeze is aware of.

Freeze can either stay with Pellerin, or he would have to burn the redshirt off of former 5-Star quarterback, freshman Shea Patterson. Patterson has always been seen as the future at quarterback for the Rebels but at this point in the season, pulling his redshirt is the last thing Freeze would want to do.

At 4-5, and now without their star quarterback, the Rebels are in even more danger of missing a bowl game than they were before. A forgettable season just got even more forgettable for the Ole Miss faithful.