Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson commits to transfer to Michigan

By AP
Published

Mississippi quarterback Shea Patterson says he will transfer to Michigan, where coach Jim Harbaugh has gone through three starting QBs this season.

Patterson made his commitment in a tweet on Monday after visiting the Ann Arbor, Michigan, campus last weekend . Patterson is recovering from a right knee injury that cost him the final month of last season, but he should be ready to compete in 2018.

In seven games, Patterson passed for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. The sophomore was one of the top recruits in the 2016 class.

Ole Miss was hit with NCAA sanctions two weeks ago that included a bowl ban next season. The NCAA said Mississippi's seniors could transfer without sitting out next season, as is usually required. Patterson does not qualify for that but could petition the NCAA to be immediately eligible.

Ole Miss said it had granted Patterson, a native of Toledo, Ohio, permission to contact Michigan. Michigan did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation, and Patterson could change his mind before signing a scholarship agreement, but the official Michigan football Twitter account did re-tweet Patterson's announcement.

Michigan went through three quarterbacks last season and the passing game struggled throughout. Michigan ranked 112th in the country in passing at 168 yards per game.

Wilton Speight started the season but went down with a back injury. He has already announced his plans to transfer. John O'Korn, a senior, took over for Speight, but was mostly ineffective. Sophomore Brandon Peters was the starter for three games, but a concussion forced him to miss the season finale against Ohio State. O'Korn started the loss to the Buckeyes.

The Wolverines also have Dylan McCaffrey, a freshman who redshirted this season after signing with Michigan as a four-star prospect in 2017.

Michigan (8-4) plays South Carolina (8-4) in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.

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This story has been corrected to show O'Korn started the season finale when Peters was out.