News:Barry Brunetti completed 5-of-7 passes for 45 yards against Tulane on Saturday while running for 56 yards.
Analysis:Barry Brunetti outplayed starter Bo Wallace, so perhaps the team will reopen its competition between the two. Brunetti is only worth watching for now, though.
News:Barry Brunetti will open the year as backup to Bo Wallace, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.
Analysis:Barry Brunetti has been a consistent disappointment, showing a severe lack of passing ability. Wallace doesn't have a strong hold of the job yet, though, so Brunetti might see the field a fair amount this year, though that's not to imply that he has fantasy value of any sort.
News:Barry Brunetti has failed to separate from Bo Wallace in the Mississippi quarterback race, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger reports.
Analysis:Barry Brunetti just did not look good last year, and it's a bad sign that he can't look good even in practices against a Mississippi defense that has been an embarrassment to the SEC lately. He's a player to avoid.
News: It appears that Ole Miss has found their next head coach in Hugh Freeze from Arkansas State. Freeze is familiar with Ole Miss as he coached under Ed Orgeron. Freeze has had much success as the offensive coordinator and head coach of the Red Wolves, leading them to a 10-2 season in his first season as the head coach.
Analysis: Freeze is a solid hire for the program and has some young talent to work with. Look for him to mold Barry Brunetti like he did Ryan Aplin and use the wealth of talent already on the roster.
News: Led by Barry Brunetti, the Ole Miss offense gained just 202 total yards against Mississippi State. Brunetti threw for 110 yards while rushing for 23 more. Running backs Enrique Davis and Brandon Bolden combined for a meager 47 yards.
Analysis: Brunetti has a lot of potential so it will be interesting to see how the new coaching staff utilizes him and attempts to spark a dormant offense.
News: After coming in to relieve Zack Stoudt and rushing for 74 yards against LSU, Ole Miss quarterback Barry Brunetti has earned the starting job against Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl.
Analysis: Both teams are terrible but Brunetti is still not worth a start. However, look for this youngster to do some good things next year depending on what the offense will look like under the new coaching regime.
News: Ole Miss has played three different quarterbacks this season, but from this point on they will stick with Randall Mackey as their starter.
Analysis: Mackey combines the passing ability of Zack Stoudt with the elusiveness of Barry Brunetti and is the guy who gives the Rebels the best chance to win this season.
News: With Zack Stoudt taking over for Barry Brunetti, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt says he would like to redshirt the former West Virginia Mountaineer.
Analysis: It is unclear as to whether or not the redshirt would be possible considering the amount of snaps Brunetti has taken. But if possible the move would give the Rebels a brighter offensive future.
News: Ole Miss quarterback Barry Brunetti started the game against BYU but was benched in favor of Zack Stoudt.
Analysis: Overall the Rebels' offense was putrid with the injury to Brandon Bolden acting as the catalyst.
News: Of all the talented youngsters at receiver for Ole Miss, it was Donte Moncrief who was named a starter when the Rebels released their newest depth chart.
Analysis: Moncrief is a big, athletic target for starting quarterback Barry Brunetti and could be stellar in a year or so.
News: Despite being named the starter for the season opener, Ole Miss quarterback Barry Brunetti will not be the only signal caller who takes the field that day for the Rebels as offensive coordinator David Lee says that Zack Stoudt will also play.
Analysis: At this time, Brunetti is not much of a fantasy factor so losing snaps to Stoudt really doesn't affect him but expect Brunetti to pull away and firmly establish himself.
News: Stemming from his arrest for disorderly conduct, Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey has been suspended for the Rebels' season opening game against BYU.
Analysis:Barry Brunetti was already in the lead for the starting job, but this suspension has just allowed him to tighten his grip on the gig.
News: After his arrest for disorderly conduct, Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey has been suspended for the season opener while head coach Houston Nutt has tabbed Barry Brunetti as the starter against BYU.
Analysis: Brunetti could give the Rebels some continuity at quarterback for years to come. But as he comes along, he will need to lean on star running back Brandon Bolden.
News: Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey was arrested for disorderly conduct Tuesday morning.
Analysis: Mackey was riding close to Barry Brunetti for the starting job, but this will likely see him fall out of contention.
News: While the war wages on between Zack Stoudt, Barry Brunetti, and Randall Mackey for the starting quarterback job, head coach Houston Nutt has shown that he is impressed with all of them.
Analysis: The winner will still likely be Brunetti which should lead to a bright future for the Rebels' offense.
News: Ole Miss quarterback Randall Mackey has made a move to lessen the distance between himself and Barry Brunetti in the race to be the next starting quarterback for the Rebels. "Mackey looks good. He's really stepped it up the last two days" says Houston Nutt.
Analysis: My bet is that Brunetti still wins the starting job but Mackey will keep it heated until the very end.
News: So far into summer camp West Virginia transfer Barry Brunetti is edging out Zack Stoudt and Randall Mackey for the starting quarterback spot at Ole Miss.
Analysis: If Brunetti wins the job, he could give the Rebels a nice future at the quarterback position.
News: Brunetti appears to have taken a slight lead in the race to become starting quarterback for Ole Miss this season, impressing coaches in the initial practices of fall camp, the Clarion-Ledger reports.
Analysis: Says offensive coordinator David Lee, "The first practice, [Brunetti] took us right down the field and threw a touchdown pass. I saw a calm about him, I saw communication under pressure, I saw performance under pressure." Despite the praise, Lee continues to maintain that there is a "razor-thin competition behind center," adding, "I'll tell you this ... and I really believe it - I think we can play with all three of these guys [Brunetti, Randall Mackey and Zach Stroudt] in this offense."
News: Head coach for Ole Miss Houston Nutt tells the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, "If we started today, we'd put [quarterback] Barry Brunetti out there first simply because he's been the most consistent in the classroom, study hall, weightroom, on the field. He's very accountable."
Analysis: It's an interesting statement from Nutt, who following spring practice listed Randall Mackey and Brunetti with an "or" between them on the Rebels' post-camp depth chart. Still, keep in mind that in the past, Nutt has played with two quarterbacks, usually one a runner and one a thrower - something he acknowledges in the article by the Clarion-Ledger. "We've had a runner and a thrower, or whoever that has certain talents and we've had a mixture. We've done that and been successful with it, but it's not like that's what we're looking to do. We'd rather just have one that can handle everything, but we'll just see what gives us the best chance to win."
News: With the attrition at defensive back, linebacker, and wide receiver, Ole Miss head coach Houston Nutt has said that incoming freshmen like "(Senquez) Golson, Cody Prewitt, Aaron Morris, Justin Bell, Tobias Singleton, Nick Brassell, Donte Moncrief and many more are going to be given a real shot."
Analysis: With Barry Brunetti most likely the starter at quarterback, the connection that he builds with these talented freshmen could pay huge dividends for years to come. Defensively, these youngsters will take their lumps but they will be all the better for it as upperclassmen.
News: In anticipation of being named the starting quarterback for Ole Miss, West Virginia transfer Barry Brunetti attended the famous Manning passing camp and has worked on "how to coach yourself."
Analysis: Brunetti has really stepped up this spring and is the favorite to win the starting job over Randall Mackey and Zack Stoudt. Brunetti is the best blend of Stoudt's arm and Mackey's athleticism and could finally give the Rebels some quarterback continuity.
News: Ole Miss can breathe a sigh of relief as they welcome one of their talented receivers from the 2011 recruiting class. Tobias Singleton has been cleared academically and is set to enroll in classes this Wednesday. In a related story, fellow receiver Nickolas Brassell has already been cleared and should join Singleton in enrolling this summer.
Analysis: The Rebs went wide receiver heavy in their last recruiting class which should make quarterback Barry Brunetti happy as he will now have some athletic vertical threats with which to work.
News: After being buried on the depth chart in Oxford, former Ole Miss quarterback Nathan Stanley has decided to head to the FCS ranks to play for Southeastern Louisiana. Stanley will be able play immediately and has two more years of eligibility.
Analysis: Even without the strong armed Stanley, Ole Miss has some decent quarterback depth with Randall Mackey, Zack Stoudt and West Virginia transfer Barry Brunetti.
QB Brunetti Cleared to Play Immediately Despite Transfer
News: Brunetti has been cleared to play for Ole Miss immediately this fall by the NCAA, this despite his having transferred to Oxford only this past January, ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Brunetti asked the NCAA to waive the one-year residency requirement due to a family situation surrounding a car accident his mother was involved in which made it increasingly difficult for her to travel to Morgantown. Brunetti tweeted in response to the decision: "I am blessed to say that the NCAA has cleared me to play this year and God is Good..."
News: Brunetti, one of the nation's top high school dual-threat quarterbacks in the Class of 2010, has announced he will be leaving West Virginia in order to transfer to Mississippi, the Clarion Ledger reports.
Analysis: Brunetti hopes to take advantage of a hardship waiver which would allow the youngster to transfer to Oxford and play for the Rebels without having to sit out a year. Brunetti is citing the fact that growing complications stemming from a car accident his mother experienced years ago has made the drive from Memphis to Morgantown difficult.
News: Brunetti plans on transferring from West Virginia to somewhere closer to his hometown of Memphis, the Memphis Commercial Appeal reports.
Analysis: Brunetti, a true freshman, was one of the top quarterbacks of the 2010 class, particularly among dual-threat quarterbacks. Coming out of high school, it seems like his top choices besides West Virginia were Louisville and Mississippi State. It's not clear what schools he might be targeting at this point, nor what schools might still have an interest. A sleeper might be Mississippi, as they apparently don't have much faith in Nathan Stanley, and Jeremiah Masoli is gone after this year.
