Michigan QB Shea Patterson Eligible to Play Next Season After Ole Miss Transfer

The Michigan Wolverines received a major boost Friday when it was announced the NCAA has decided transfer quarterback Shea Patterson will be eligible to play in 2018.

Transfers generally have to wait a year to play for their new school, but Patterson filed a waiver request with the NCAA arguing for immediate eligibility because former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze lied to him about sanctions the school was facing. 

"Patterson says statements provided to the NCAA by two teammates who also intended to transfer claim Freeze told them in 2016 that any NCAA football violations came before he was coach," CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd wrote. "Patterson stated those assertions were 'unquestionably' not true."

Patterson also alleged Ole Miss officials "plotted" to "keep him and other Rebels recruits in 2016 from finding out about the true scope of the NCAA charges," per Dodd. 

On Friday, Michigan and Ole Miss jointly announced they had agreed to the framework of a new waiver application that was subsequently approved by the NCAA. 

"The University of Mississippi and the University of Michigan have worked together over the last several days in conjunction with the NCAA national office staff, and with a focus on the best interest of the student-athlete, to put forward a new waiver application," the schools wrote. "That new application was submitted this week by the University of Michigan and supported by both schools."

Patterson, a former 5-star recruit, is expected to challenge for the Wolverines' starting quarterback job upon arrival. According to 247Sports' Josh Henschke, Patterson's competition will consist of redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters, redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey and true freshman Joe Milton. 

In six appearances last season, Peters completed 52.8 percent of his passes for 672 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. 

Patterson, meanwhile, completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 3,139 yards, 23 scores and 12 picks over two seasons with the Rebels. 

Recruit information courtesy of 247Sports.