ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football will have quarterback Shea Patterson for one more season.
The junior quarterback announced his decision to return to school for his senior season in 2019 rather than pursue a possible spot in the upcoming NFL draft.
Patterson will play for Michigan in the Peach Bowl vs. Florida on Dec. 29 in Atlanta.
“There is absolutely nothing like playing in the Big House in front of the greatest fans in the country,” Patterson wrote via his Twitter account Friday. “I wouldn’t trade those Saturdays competing with my brothers for anything. Can’t wait to play with the seniors one last time in the Peach Bowl! I also want to welcome and congratulate the new signing class – come in ready to work because we are coming for everything next season. Go Blue. #Thosewhostay.”
Patterson threw for 2,364 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He posted a 65.1-percent completion rate and a passer rating of 154.28.
The 2018 season was his first at Michigan, as he transferred to Ann Arbor last December before undergoing a lengthy appeal process for immediate eligibility after leaving Ole Miss.
Patterson ultimately won that appeal after the close of spring practice and was named Michigan's starting quarterback midway through the team's fall camp in August.
He helped U-M to a 10-2 regular-season record, including 10 straight victories before a 62-39 season-ending defeat at Ohio State. Patterson had been contemplating a jump to the NFL after this season.
"I've had the most fun ever in my football career, so far, suiting up here at Michigan," Patterson told reporters earlier this month. "It's been such an honor to do it. I think there's a lot more to be done.
Now, he'll get a chance to do that work.
Patterson's draft stock in 2019 was a bit of a mystery, as some scouts believed he had the potential to elevate his potential landing spot throughout the draft process.
He was not viewed as a possible first-round pick by most analysts. Though all agreed returning to school could give him an opportunity to improve upon that.
"It wasn't that long ago people were like 'Baker Mayfield's not getting any taller,' but then he comes back and just dominates as a senior," draft analyst Matt Miller said of Patterson, who is 6-foot-2, earlier this month. "He'd have been a Day 3 pick had he come out as a junior. But he comes back, ends up being No. 1. So there is some of that thought process, I think, out there.
"Another year of coaching can't hurt."
U-M's other scholarship quarterbacks currently are redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey, true freshman Joe Milton and redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters. McCaffrey is still recovering from a season-ending shoulder injury he suffered in October.
The Wolverines will also have incoming freshman quarterback Cade McNamara on campus in January as an early enrollee.
This will be the second time in Jim Harbaugh's Michigan tenure that the Wolverines will have a returning starter at quarterback. Wilton Speight returned in 2017 after starting most of the 2016 campaign under center.
Though Harbaugh made Speight go through a full competition with backup John O'Korn throughout spring practice and fall camp. He named Speight the starter just before the season-opener against Florida, but also gave O'Korn reps in that game.
Speight was eventually lost for the season with an injury in week four and later transferred, making room for Patterson's arrival.
McCaffrey ultimately passed Peters to take over as Michgian's backup this season. He played in parts of six games before suffering a shoulder injury. Michigan used both Peters and Milton as Patterson's backup from there, though Milton finished the Ohio State loss after Patterson left with a leg injury.
Milton, who has appeared in only three games, will retain his redshirt this season and be a second-year freshman next year. McCaffrey will be a redshirt sophomore. Peters will be a redshirt junior.
Contact Nick Baumgardner: nbaumgardn@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickbaumgardner.
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