Wait continues for Rebel quarterback
Brent Schaeffer must pass 6 hours of correspondence work before enrolling at Ole Miss
OXFORD — Ole Miss will have to wait a little longer for Brent Schaeffer.
Schaeffer will not be on campus for the second semester of summer school as originally planned, Rebels coach Ed Orgeron said Wednesday.
Instead, Chandra Schaeffer said her son, who was named the Rebels' starting quarterback on signing day in February, probably won't make it to Oxford until late July because he still must complete six credit hours of correspondence courses to become eligible to enroll at Ole Miss.
"He wanted to get there sooner, I'm sure," Chandra Schaeffer said. "He kind of had to get two years' worth of work done in a year. It was a lot of work."
Earlier this month, Chandra Schaeffer said her son had completed his junior college classes at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, Calif., and planned to be in Oxford at the beginning of July, for the start of the second summer school session. Orgeron said that was his target date for Schaeffer's arrival, too.
Schaeffer still can be eligible this fall if he passes the courses. Orgeron and Chandra Schaeffer said they're confident Schaeffer will complete the work in time to participate in the August two-a-day practices.
But Orgeron said Wednesday he has set no new timeline for Schaeffer's arrival.
"He's going to be done when he's done," Orgeron said. " The priority is just finishing the academic work he needs to do. Obviously, we would've preferred to have Brent here at the beginning of the summer. But the work is taking a little longer than expected and that's it.
"He's got work to do and work to finish."
Ole Miss' offensive hopes rest on Schaeffer's shoulders even though he hasn't played a down for the Rebels.
Schaeffer did start three games as a freshman at Tennessee in 2004 before transferring.
In junior college last fall, Schaeffer threw for 2,975 yards and 40 touchdowns, while rushing for 854 yards and 12 scores.
He is the only quarterback on Ole Miss' roster with Division I experience.
"You try not to worry about (his arrival)," said Robert Lane, a former quarterback converted into a tight end. "And if he doesn't show up, that's fine. This time last year, he wasn't here either. We've got some good quarterbacks and if he doesn't show up, that's just how it is and we're going to have to go ahead.
"But hopefully he does."
Ole Miss had hoped Schaeffer could be on campus during the summer to become acclimated to the surroundings and get to know teammates. He does have a copy of the Rebels' playbook and has kept in contact with offensive coordinator Dan Werner since signing his letter-of-intent.
Ole Miss' preseason practice begins in early August and the Rebels' first game is Sept. 3 against Memphis.
"Academics and completing his coursework is our No. 1 priority for him," Orgeron said. "We want him here for camp and we want him ready to go."
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