With senior quarterback Seth Adams questionable for Saturday’s game against Florida with a sprained right shoulder, Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron strongly suggested at Monday morning’s weekly press conference that Brent Schaeffer — yes, Brent Schaeffer — could start against the Gators this weekend at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Some drama is sure to play out this week, as the Rebels not only try to recover from last Saturday’s disappointing loss to Vanderbilt (didn’t the Commodores used to be the doormat of the SEC?), but also revisit the soap opera that is their quarterback position. On Monday, Adams said he fully expects to play this weekend. Orgeron wasn’t so sure.

What was clear, however, was that Orgeron and offensive coordinator Dan Werner seemed to go out of their way to praise Schaeffer, who relieved Adams in the fourth quarter against Vanderbilt and promptly tossed a 54-yard touchdown to Mike Wallace. Schaeffer then threw four straight incompletions over Ole Miss’ final two series of the game.

“Well, for him to step in and throw a deep ball like that was phenomenal,” Werner said. “Just that quickly, to come in and throw a perfect pass for a touchdown and get us back in the game — then at the end there, we had some protection issues, and he could have helped himself out by seeing things a little better. It’s tough, right in the middle of a game, bam, you’re in there all of a sudden in a crucial situation.”

Werner said Schaeffer could have given up on his college career when Adams won the starting job in fall camp. Instead, Werner said, Schaeffer has maintained a good attitude.

“There’s no doubt,” he said. “He’s matured and understands what it takes to be a big-time player, and he’s done everything we’ve asked. With him not being the starter, he easily could have tanked it, but he’s worked harder than he ever has. And he’s doing everything we ask him to do.”

Stay tuned…