The starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels is Trinidad Chambliss. We all know it. But who…Lord forbid…would be the number two QB for the Rebels, if anything happened to Chambliss?
Remember, Chambliss was an unknow Division 2 transfer last year until starter Austin Simmons was injured versus Kentucky. Simmons, through no fault of his own, must have felt like the infamous Wally Pipp, who was taken out of the Yankees’ lineup with a headache and replaced by legend Lou Gehrig. Gehrig, forever after, never came out of the lineup.
Neither did Trinidad Chambliss, who is now a preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy.
So one of the biggest questions Ole Miss is dealing with this spring is QB2. The odds-on favorite is Auburn transfer Deuce Knight. But do not forget about former state champion AJ Maddox, whose father attended Tuesday’s session.
“Obviously, that’s personal to me,” Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding said following Tuesday’s practice when asked about Maddox. “I was involved in his recruitment and having played with his dad (at Delta State). AJ was committed to (Texas) A&M when I first came over, so obviously it was really a late-recruitment piece.
“He’s super talented. We’ve always loved AJ…his arm talent, ability to extend some plays, continuing to develop his body in the weight room. I think he’s got a much better understanding of the offense.
“I think consistency in performance is obviously the big thing we’re looking for. You see the flashes, can make all the throws. I think he is consistently making really good decisions.”
Is Maddox competing for the QB2 role this spring? Golding continued.
“He’s competing his butt off…He’s coming in every day and going to work and stringing together some good practices.”
Golding’s glowing review certainly doesn’t mean Maddox is challenging Knight, but it is comforting to hear the head coach is so high on who might be QB3 this fall.
Maddox was four-star recruit out of Oak Grove (Miss.) High School. He is also the brother of Ole Miss teammate Andrew Maddox, who like their father, plays defensive tackle. Anthony Maddox Sr. played with Pete Golding at Delta State. A younger Maddox bother, Andrae Maddox, is a highly-recruited defensive lineman at Oxford (Miss.) High School, who already holds offers from Ole Miss, Ohio State and many others.