Ole Miss quarterback and Buffalo native Chad Kelly will return to school for his senior season, he announced on Monday.
Kelly, who threw for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns in his first season as a starter for the Rebels, led the Southeastern Conference in passing, averaging more than 311 yards per game.
The former St. Joe's standout led the Rebels to their first 10 win season since 2003 and first Sugar Bowl in 46 years. Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma State 48-20 to finish with a 10-3 record.
"After serious discussion with my family and Coach Freeze, I wanted my friends and fans to know that I’ll be staying at Ole Miss for my senior year. I look forward to completing my degree and graduating from Ole Miss,” Kelly said in a statement. “We’ve lost a lot of starters, but we’re still deep in talent, and I’m excited to get back to work with Coach Freeze, Coach Werner and the rest of the team.”
Kelly also guided the Rebels to a 43-37 win over No. 2 Alabama in early September, the Tides only loss this season.
It was the program's first win in Tuscaloosa since 1988.
Alabama and No. 1 Clemson battle for the National Championship on Monday night.
“It feels great to be a part of a winning team for a school with such a rich history, but I realize that there’s still a lot of learning and growing that I can do with this team," he said. "It will take the hard work and commitment of everyone involved, but I believe that we have a committed coaching staff and some of the best players in college football. I can’t wait to see what we can do together in 2016.”
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