QB Patterson: Transfer to Michigan was 'business' decision

New Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson elaborated on his reason for transferring from Ole Miss to Michigan by saying it was "a smart business move." Patterson spoke to reporters over the weekend at the Wolverines' quarterback camp and reiterated that Ole Miss misled him during the recruiting process. Patterson transferred to Michigan in December shortly after the NCAA banned Ole Miss from playing in a bowl game at the end of the 2018 season because of rules violations. He applied for immediate eligibility late in February and it was granted on April 27. "Some things were left unsaid (about the NCAA investigation) that we didn't know about," Patterson told ESPN. "They didn't think we were going to get the two-year bowl ban. At the end of the day, I wanted to do what was best for me and my career." Ole Miss imposed its own bowl ban for the 2017 season due to the NCAA investigating potential violations under former coach Hugh Freeze. The NCAA added another year for 2018 and sanctions included a reduction in scholarships and three years of probation. "It was tough (to leave Ole Miss)," Patterson said. "Once it came out that I was transferring, there were a lot of other people's sides of things, and it's tough waking up every day for those four months that everything was going on, not knowing if I was going to play football, the one thing I love doing. A lot of stress was relieved and taken off my shoulders a few weeks ago, so I'm happy to have that." Patterson was granted a waiver that normally would have required non-graduated transfers to sit a year before returning. Patterson is expected to compete with redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters for the starting job at Michigan. Last season, he started the first seven games for Mississippi and passed for 2,259 yards and 17 touchdowns before a leg injury ended his season late in October.