ATHENS, Ga. – Ole Miss senior quarterback Chad Kelly is doing the expected again this season, averaging 317.7 passing yards per game and leading the Southeastern Conference with 10 touchdown tosses.
It’s the turnovers he’s still trying to do without.
The nephew of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly led the SEC last season with 310.9 passing yards per game as the Rebels raced to a 10-win season that was capped by a 48-20 throttling of Oklahoma State in the Sugar Bowl. The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder was hoping to reduce the 13 interceptions he threw a year ago, but he leads the league in that category with four in three games.
Kelly had his only interception in last Saturday’s 48-43 loss to Alabama returned 75 yards for a touchdown by Crimson Tide defensive end Jonathan Allen, and his fumble early in the second half was returned 3 yards for a touchdown by nose guard Da’Ron Payne. He was intercepted three times in the 45-34 opening loss to Florida State in Orlando, a game the Rebels led 28-6 before unraveling.
“It stinks that I’m having to say it’s my mistake again, but it’s on me,” Kelly said after the loss to Alabama. “I’ve got to understand that you’ve got to protect the ball, and when it’s not there, tuck it in and get down.”