Michigan has options if NCAA deems QB Shea Patterson ineligible
Michigan awaits an NCAA ruling on Shea Patterson's eligibility for the 2018 season, following his transfer from Mississippi.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Rachel Lenzi
@rlenziCMG
Posted 8 hours ago
During the week, Land of 10 reporters following the Wolverines answer questions on the minds of Michigan fans. Submit a question or suggest a topic by sending a tweet here to Rachel Lenzi. Check back Monday through Friday as we answer the Michigan Question of the Day. Go hereto see our previous answers.
It’s not surprising to see some hesitancy regarding Shea Patterson’s eligibility status, which the NCAA has yet to determine or announce as of Monday evening.
Michigan opens spring practices March 22, and it opens the season Sept. 1 at Notre Dame. By either of those dates, Patterson’s eligibility should be clear.
Patterson and Michigan are submitting a waiver to the NCAA that would allow him to immediately play at Michigan after transferring in December from Mississippi. Per NCAA rules, players who transfer from one FBS program to another must sit out for a calendar year, unless the NCAA grants an exception.
CBSSports.com reported earlier this month that Thomas A. Mars, a lawyer for Patterson and five other Ole Miss football players, expects the waiver process to take until late March or early April. According to CBSSports.com, the players contend they were misled about the scope of an NCAA investigation into Ole Miss, and that they should be immediately eligible to play football after transferring to different schools.
If the NCAA grants the waiver, Patterson is eligible to play, and many regard him as the shoo-in as Michigan’s starting quarterback.
If the NCAA doesn’t, it’s on to Plan B for Michigan and its quarterbacks: Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton.
Peters returns with the most playing experience, with four starts as a redshirt freshman in 2017. He was methodical and exhibited confidence and the tools to be a solid quarterback.
We don’t know much about McCaffrey, other than defensive coordinator Don Brown’s praise of his work on the scout team. McCaffrey redshirted in 2017. Milton, a freshman who enrolled in January, likely will redshirt in 2018.
Another wild card is the possibility that Wilton Speight could return if Patterson is deemed ineligible. Speight announced in December that he is pursuing a graduate transfer, as he has one more year of eligibility.
But Michigan is in a holding pattern until the NCAA announces a decision on Patterson.
“I don’t have any update on the calendar,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Feb. 7, of Patterson’s waiver process.
Unless somehow, in all of this, Michigan’s coaching staff has a plan up its sleeve to bring in another graduate transfer at quarterback. Before that happens, though, Michigan has to get down to 85 scholarships for 2018.
Read more answers to questions about the Michigan Wolverines here.
Michigan awaits an NCAA ruling on Shea Patterson's eligibility for the 2018 season, following his transfer from Mississippi.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Rachel Lenzi
@rlenziCMG
Posted 8 hours ago
During the week, Land of 10 reporters following the Wolverines answer questions on the minds of Michigan fans. Submit a question or suggest a topic by sending a tweet here to Rachel Lenzi. Check back Monday through Friday as we answer the Michigan Question of the Day. Go hereto see our previous answers.
It’s not surprising to see some hesitancy regarding Shea Patterson’s eligibility status, which the NCAA has yet to determine or announce as of Monday evening.
Michigan opens spring practices March 22, and it opens the season Sept. 1 at Notre Dame. By either of those dates, Patterson’s eligibility should be clear.
Patterson and Michigan are submitting a waiver to the NCAA that would allow him to immediately play at Michigan after transferring in December from Mississippi. Per NCAA rules, players who transfer from one FBS program to another must sit out for a calendar year, unless the NCAA grants an exception.
CBSSports.com reported earlier this month that Thomas A. Mars, a lawyer for Patterson and five other Ole Miss football players, expects the waiver process to take until late March or early April. According to CBSSports.com, the players contend they were misled about the scope of an NCAA investigation into Ole Miss, and that they should be immediately eligible to play football after transferring to different schools.
If the NCAA grants the waiver, Patterson is eligible to play, and many regard him as the shoo-in as Michigan’s starting quarterback.
If the NCAA doesn’t, it’s on to Plan B for Michigan and its quarterbacks: Brandon Peters, Dylan McCaffrey and Joe Milton.
Peters returns with the most playing experience, with four starts as a redshirt freshman in 2017. He was methodical and exhibited confidence and the tools to be a solid quarterback.
We don’t know much about McCaffrey, other than defensive coordinator Don Brown’s praise of his work on the scout team. McCaffrey redshirted in 2017. Milton, a freshman who enrolled in January, likely will redshirt in 2018.
Another wild card is the possibility that Wilton Speight could return if Patterson is deemed ineligible. Speight announced in December that he is pursuing a graduate transfer, as he has one more year of eligibility.
But Michigan is in a holding pattern until the NCAA announces a decision on Patterson.
“I don’t have any update on the calendar,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said Feb. 7, of Patterson’s waiver process.
Unless somehow, in all of this, Michigan’s coaching staff has a plan up its sleeve to bring in another graduate transfer at quarterback. Before that happens, though, Michigan has to get down to 85 scholarships for 2018.
Read more answers to questions about the Michigan Wolverines here.
