Ole Miss QB Shea Patterson announces transfer to Michigan

Sam Cooper
·College football writer
Shea Patterson is transferring to Michigan after two seasons at Ole Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Shea Patterson is transferring to Michigan after two seasons at Ole Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Shea Patterson is heading to the Big Ten.

A week after the Ole Miss quarterback was granted permission to pursue a transfer, Patterson announced Monday he will continue his collegiate career at Michigan.

Patterson, the top quarterback recruit in the class of 2016, has thrown for 3,139 yards, 23 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 10 starts over the last two seasons. In just seven games in 2017, he put up huge numbers, throwing for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns before going down with a season-ending knee injury. Patterson was initially going to redshirt the 2016 season, but he had his redshirt removed and started the team’s final three games.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh took a trip down to Oxford to visit with Patterson and a few other Ole Miss players last week, and the players returned the favor by visiting Ann Arbor over the weekend.

Patterson sought a transfer earlier this month after Ole Miss’ NCAA sanctions were announced. As part of the NCAA penalties, an additional year was added to the school’s bowl ban.

Because of that, players who will be seniors in 2018 can transfer with immediate eligibility. That does not apply to Patterson, who will be a junior next season. However, if Patterson pursues and is granted an NCAA waiver, he would be able to suit up for the Wolverines in 2018. If that comes to fruition, it would be a huge boost for Michigan, which has had up-and-down play at quarterback during Harbaugh’s tenure.

Wilton Speight, Michigan’s starter to begin 2016 and 2017, has already announced his intention to leave UM as a graduate transfer. Speight’s absence leaves Brandon Peters, a redshirt sophomore, as the likely starter if Patterson is not immediately eligible. Peters started three games this season before suffering a concussion against Wisconsin and is expected to start in the Outback Bowl against South Carolina.

Michigan also has Dylan McCaffrey, a four-star recruit in the 2017 class, on the roster. McCaffrey is the younger brother of former Stanford star running back Christian McCaffrey, the Heisman runner-up in 2015. Additionally, the Wolverines have a verbal commitment from Joe Milton, a four-star quarterback in the 2018 class. Milton is expected to enroll early.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!