Ole Miss Spring Game 2015: Recap, Highlights and Twitter Reaction

Ole Miss football fans got their first taste of what the Rebels will look like in 2015 Saturday as the Blue team defeated the Red team 17-7 in the Grove Bowl spring game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi.

Saturday's exhibition was largely a defensive battle, which comes as little surprise, since the Rebels led the nation in points allowed last season. With that said, there were still some standouts on the offensive side of the ball.

The talk of the game was undoubtedly the play of junior quarterback Chad Kelly, who may have established himself as the favorite to seize the Rebels' starting job.

As seen in this tweet courtesy of Ole Miss Football, Kelly outperformed his competition statistically as the only Rebels quarterback to throw a touchdown:

Kelly came to Ole Miss as a transfer from East Mississippi Community College after some off-field issues led to his dismissal from Clemson. Kelly may still be a work in progress from a character perspective, but few have ever questioned the skill set that the nephew of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly possesses.

His ability was quite evident in the very early going as Kelly quickly put the Blue team ahead 7-0 with a touchdown pass to junior tight end Taz Zettergren in the first quarter, according to Ole Miss Football:

It was a 44-yard strike, and it thoroughly impressed many, including David Brandt of The Associated Press:

Brandt was far from the only one taken aback by Kelly's hot start, though, as Brad Logan of ESPN Radio 96.3 The Ticket also took notice:

Although it was only one drive, Kelly opened some eyes and put up some big-time statistics in the process, per Chris Hudgison of WLBT:

As important as Kelly's play is in terms of becoming a quality starter at the collegiate level, he must continue to mature and evolve as a person as well.

Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze attempted to help that process along by bringing Kelly on a mission trip to Haiti recently. According to Michael Carvell of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Freeze believes it was a positive experience for the polarizing native of Buffalo, New York:

"

But right now, all indications are that it heightened his awareness of the blessings that he has here, the opportunity to get an education—and to not waste those things. I certainly think his awareness to that was heightened. So I think it had to be a good thing. Hopefully, it will have lasting effects on all the people that went.

"

Provided Kelly is able to continue improving in all areas as a player and person, he may very well prove to be the best possible successor to Bo Wallace at quarterback.

He helped his own cause significantly in the first half, and he also benefited from his chief competition struggling a bit.

Per Aslan Hodges of WAPT, sophomore signal-caller Ryan Buchanan was unable to manufacture any points in the first half:

Kelly's Blue squad entered halftime with a 10-0 lead on the heels of an opening half that was fairly nondescript besides the big-play touchdown pass to Zettergren.

Things got a bit more entertaining in the second half due to the implementation of some trickery. The Blue team extended its lead to 17-0 with another touchdown pass, but this time it didn't come courtesy of Kelly.

According to Ole Miss Football, senior running back Jaylen Walton connected with sophomore wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow for an unexpected, 66-yard score:

Per Brandt, the Mississippi fans in attendance were captivated by Freeze's aggressive and innovative play call:

Following a late score by the Red team on a Eugene Brazley run to make it 17-7, Kelly made his only major miscue of the game on the final play:

Although spring games generally raise more questions than answers, the 2015 Grove Bowl was fairly successful from the perspective of Ole Miss.

It is clear that the Rebels haven't missed a beat defensively after their fine performance in 2014, and while the offense is a work in progress, there are some glimmers of hope there as well.

Kelly made an excellent first impression and looks to be the leader in the clubhouse at quarterback, while weapons such as Walton, Stringfellow and Zettergren shined as well.

Having success in the SEC is no easy task, but there is reason to believe that the Rebels have the talent and formula needed to thrive in 2015.

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