Ole Miss will remove the redshirt from Shea Patterson and play the freshman quarterback Saturday against Texas A&M, according to a report.

Barrett Sallee, lead college football writer at Bleacher Report, tweeted moments ago that Patterson will “have his redshirt pulled and play this weekend” against Texas A&M. Sallee attributed the report to an anonymous source.

Patterson is one of Ole Miss’ most prized recruits ever. He came to the Rebels as the top pro-style quarterback in the class of 2016. With Chad Kelly quarterbacking, the Rebels’ plan was to redshirt Patterson this season. But when Kelly went down with an injury last week against Georgia Southern, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze was faced with a decision.

Freeze said earlier this week that he had not made a decision on whether Jason Pellerin, Kelly’s backup who’s been used primarly as a runner, would get the start or if Patterson would play. Freeze said there would not be any equal distribution of first-team reps during practice this week.

Pellerin will prepare to be the starter against A&M, Freeze said. Like most freshman, Patterson isn’t opposed to playing regardless of what point of the season it is.

“He is ready to go,” Freeze said. “He wants to go play, but it is not a decision I can make out of emotion. I want to really think through it.”

Ole Miss and Texas A&M play Saturday in College Station, Texas at 6:30 p.m.