Auburn Football: Pre-Spring SEC Quarterback Power Rankings

Nov 2, 2013; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Clemson Tigers quarterback Chad Kelly (11) runs with the ball past Virginia Cavaliers defensive tackle Donte Wilkins (93) to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Scott Stadium. The Tigers won 59-10. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

In a case of good news/bad news, Bo Wallace is no longer the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels. It’s bad news because Wallace was a three-year starter in Oxford who leaves as the program’s all-time leader in total offense, which is no small feat since Wallace passed Eli Manning for the record.

However, “Dr. Bo” always seemed to play on the brink of disaster and earned a reputation (as well as the Good Bo/Bad Bo moniker) for untimely turnovers that held Ole Miss back from greatness.

Looking ahead to 2015, the Rebels must replace Wallace with either former Clemson starer and junior college transfer Chad Kelly or one of Wallace’s backups from last season, DeVante Kincade or Ryan Buchanan.

Despite some off-field issues that make Kelly a candidate to “embarrass” Ole Miss at some point in the future, Kelly has the inside track because of his experience at both Clemson and as the JUCO national championship QB at East Mississippi Community College – where he threw for 3,906 yards and 47 touchdowns and added 446 rushing yards and four more scores in 2014.

According to Alex Scarborough of ESPN, “If Chad Kelly plays well, the Rebs could compete for a national championship.”

However, for Kelly to earn the opportunity to start and lead the Rebels to a successful season, he’ll need to 1. Stay out of trouble, and 2. Beat out Kincade and Buchanan – a pair of talented sophomores that combined to complete 28 of 42 passing attempts for 202 yards with a touchdown (Kincade) and an interception (Buchanan) last season.

Next: 10. Florida