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SEC Football: Top 100 SEC players to watch in 2016

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama won 30-16. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) makes a pass during the second quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Chad Kelly (10) makes a pass during the second quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Chad Kelly 2015 Season Statistics

  • Games Played: 13
  • Completions: 298
  • Passing Attempts: 458
  • Completion Percentage: 65.1
  • Passing Yards: 4,042
  • Passing Yards Per Game: 310.9
  • Passing Touchdowns: 31
  • Interceptions: 13
  • Rushing Attempts: 107
  • Sacked: 18
  • Rushing Yards: 500
  • Rushing Touchdowns: 10
  • Notable: Led the SEC in passing yardage, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, and passing yards per game.

As previously mentioned, quarterback is arguably the weakest position group in the SEC heading into 2016. That makes the return of Chad Kelly to Ole Miss even bigger.

Kelly signed with the Rebels out of junior college in 2015 and quickly emerged as the team’s starting quarterback, and promptly set a school record by leading Ole Miss to back-to-back explosive performances against UT-Martina and Fresno State in which the Rebels scored more than 70 points and amassed more than 600 yards of total offense – something no SEC team had ever done.

For an encore, Kelly threw for 341 yards and three touchdowns without an interceptions in a 43-37 upset victory over eventual national champion Alabama in Week 3.

He then set about leading the SEC in passing and touchdowns, while breaking Ole Miss school records for passing yardage (4,042), total yardage (4,542), 300-yard passing performances (8) and total touchdowns (41) in the process. Not bad considering he had to pass a couple of guys named Manning on the all-time list.

Because Ole Miss will be one of the hardest hit teams in the league by graduation and early NFL entry (only eight Rebels return that started six or more games last season, including just one offensive lineman), Kelly will shoulder an even heavier burden as a senior. Luckily, Kelly will be able to lean on a talented receiving corps including Top 100 players Quincy Adeboyejo, Damore’ea Stringfellow and Even Engram.

Next: Leonard Fournette

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