This summer, the Daily Mississippian will be giving you a breakdown of each position on the Rebels’ football team for the eagerly anticipated upcoming season.
The most difficult position to predict on the team is quarterback, where three-year starter Bo Wallace is being replaced. There’s still no definite answer on who the starter will be next season. Either junior college transfer Chad Kelly, or redshirt sophomores Ryan Buchanan and DeVante Kincaid will hold the position. Meanwhile, freshman Jason Pellerin, who was a four star prospect in the 2015 recruiting class, is unlikely to get much playing time early on but has the potential to be a good quarterback for the Rebels down the road.
The annual Grove Bowl in April gave fans a glimpse into the quarterback competition, but none of the quarterbacks seemed to stand out among the rest. Kelly completed nine of his 19 passes for 104 yards for one touchdown and one interception, while Buchanan completed five of his 16 attempts for 68 yards and an interception. Kincade completed nine of his 18 passes for 92 yards and rushed 10 times for 50 yards.
Buchanan is a classic pocket passer whose understanding of the game has given him a big advantage in the race, but could stand to improve his arm strength. Meanwhile, Kincade is a dual threat quarterback who fits Freeze’s read option offense very well, offering mobility and the chance to make a play with his feet when he can’t find one through the air. However, Kincade is probably the least-polished candidate in terms of passing. If Kincade can’t win the job, he could still play a big role as a running quarterback, similar to the role Barry Brunetti had a few years ago with the Rebels. Kelly falls somewhere in the middle in terms of passing and mobility, and showcases a big arm but also has plenty of catching up to do with Kincade and Buchanan, who have already been in the program two years. Kelly could have the most upside of the 3 but has to show consistency before he can win the job.
Head coach Hugh Freeze said after spring practices Buchanan held a very slight lead over Kelly and Kincade, but that he wasn’t close to naming a starter yet.
The starter will most likely not be chosen until the season is nearer, but if the starter struggles, there’s a chance multiple quarterbacks may receive playing time and a shot at the starting job.
Overall, the Rebels return a lot of talent from a very good team last year, and quarterback play will be one of the biggest factors in determining whether or not the team plays to it’s potential, whoever the starter may be.
The next preview will be the state of the running back position, which looks very different from last year after two transfers and the addition of a freshman back.
