Seth Adams Named Starting Rebel QB

The competition to find out which Ole Miss quarterback will start the Memphis game is over.

Rebel coach Ed Orgeron said senior Seth Adams, a Holly Springs native, will start the Sept. 1 game against Memphis in the Liberty Bowl. Adams has been taking snaps with the first team during preseason camp.

Despite Adams being the No. 1 starter coming out of the spring, Orgeron said there would be an open competition for the quarterback spot held in preseason camp between Adams, 2006 starter senior Brent Schaeffer and redshirt freshman Michael Herrick.

“Since we opened the quarterback position in the spring, Seth has been the most consistent, both in the spring and in fall camp,” Orgeron said in a statement released this morning. “Our quarterback position will be treated like any other position on the team. You have to earn your starting spot on a daily basis. We are expecting Seth to make progress as a quarterback in our offense.”

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Adams came to Ole Miss in January 2006 as a walk-on from Hinds Community College, where had transferred from Delta State. Adams, who has since earned a scholarship, will be the first former walk-on to start at quarterback under Ole Miss offensive coordinator Dan Werner, who has also coached at several schools including Miami, Louisiana Tech, Murray State and James Madison.

Adams appeared in six games last season as Schaeffer’s backup and completed 17 of 31 passes for 177 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or an interception. Adams logged extensive playing time against LSU and Mississippi State when he replaced Schaeffer in the second half.

The first action for Adams during the 2006 season came against Wake Forest when he completed eight of 11 passes for 84 yards and a long of 19 yards and was named Rebel QB Club Offensive Player of the Week. He also saw limited playing time against Vanderbilt and Arkansas.

In 2005 at Hinds, Adams ranked third in individual passing in MACJC, averaging 214.3 yards per game while completing 102 of 202 passes for 1,500 yards with 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions.

His 125.2 pass efficency rating ranked fifth in the Region 23 standings. He also rushed for one touchdown in a season cut short by Hurricane Katrina. The Bulldogs finished the 2005 campaign 3-4 overall under Adams’ direction.