Shea Patterson Says Ole Miss Misled Him as a Recruit in Letter to Michigan

Former Ole Miss quarterback Shea Patterson reportedly wrote a nine-page letter to Michigan officials explaining how he was misled by his former school and head coach Hugh Freeze. 

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reported the news, calling the letter "scathing" and pointing out Patterson said Freeze and Ole Miss officials lied to him "repeatedly over a 20-month period in an attempt to keep him on campus and discredit both media and the NCAA."

Patterson is waiting to hear from the NCAA regarding his eligibility to play for the Wolverines in 2018 after he transferred.

Football players who transfer from one school to another have to sit out a year pending a waiver, and Patterson is seeking one that will allow him to suit up for Michigan. The letter is a part of his appeal package submitted to the NCAA.

Patterson wrote that two former teammates who also plan on transferring said Freeze misled them by saying the NCAA violations that led to a postseason ban for the Rebels happened before he became head coach.

"In the filing, Patterson states Ole Miss officials 'plotted' to keep him and other Rebels recruits in 2016 from finding out about the true scope of the NCAA charges," Dodd wrote.

Dodd previously reported Ole Miss sent a formal objection of Patterson's claims to the NCAA.

Patterson would provide a significant boost to the Wolverines if he is eligible, especially after quarterback Wilton Speight transferred and John O'Korn struggled in 2017. O'Korn finished with two touchdown passes and six picks, while Brandon Peters had just four touchdown passes all season before he was injured.

The Wolverines will likely need better quarterback play if they are going to compete with the likes of Ohio State, Penn State and Michigan State in the loaded Big Ten East alone.

Patterson threw for 2,259 yards, 17 touchdowns and nine interceptions during the 2017 campaign for the Rebels.