Ole Miss suffered a huge blow Wednesday when it was confirmed that starting linebacker D.T. Shackelford had suffered a torn ACL. Now comes word that the Rebels have taken another unexpected “hit”, albeit on the other side of the ball. And for an entirely different reason.
Multiple media outlets are reporting Wednesday night that quarterback Nathan Stanley has decided to leave the football program. In a tweet, Kyle Veazey of the Jackson Clarion-Ledger writes that head coach Houston Nutt confirmed the departure via a one-word text message.
While no details behind the departure are known at the moment, the situation at the quarterback position likely played a significant role in Stanley’s decision.
Stanley has been involved in a four-way battle for the starting job along with Randall Mackey, transfer Barry Brunetti and Zach Stoudt. Mackey appears to have at least a tentative hold the No. 1 spot, and his command of the huddle this spring prompted Nutt to say that was the “biggest single most awesome thing” that’s come out of this year’s sessions.
On the flip side is Stanley, who’s reportedly fallen to No. 4 on the QB pecking order.
Last year at this time, Stanley was winning the Rebels’ starting job. He ended up losing that role after Jeremiah Masoli transferred in.