Randall Mackey said he saw the move to WR coming, and he certainly didn't seem bothered by it.

“It was fun. It was might first time playing it. I wanted to go out there and make the best of it and just have fun. My momma might not like it too much, but she'll get used to it,” he said.

So will all Ole Miss fans if they see Mackey line up the slot, catch a short pass, slip a tackle and turn it into a big gain or take a handoff on an end around and show his elusiveness on a straight run.

Mackey has clearly been the third quarterback in the race this spring, and his status wasn't changing.

Coming off the field following today's practice in which he was disappointed with his quarterbacks and his offense overall, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze indicated there wasn't much distance between Barry Brunetti and Bo Wallace, but there is distance between the two of them and Mackey.

Making the move now gives more snaps for Brunetti and Wallace in practice as they try to win the job.

It also lets Mackey settle into something new. He hasn't played a position other than quarterback since his days in Pee Wee football.

How he takes to receiver remains to be seen, but he's an athlete. He can catch a short pass and run. If he really develops with it, maybe he'll catch longer passes.

Today, Mackey did fine in drill work and didn't get many touches in team work.

There is an uncertainty with Makey regarding his academics, an uncertainty that affects a number of Ole Miss players.

WR-CB Nick Brassell, WR Donte Moncrief and OL Aaron Morris were among players not at today's workout for reasons of academics or illness.

Said Freeze: “Randall, he and I are very open and honest about the issues we're facing. Provided he can get them straightened out, we're going to find a place to use him, so we're going to experiment with him. We kind of think of him as both (receiver and running back).We would try to find a package … and quarterback too. We may line him up at all three before it's all over, I know we will. We'll figure out a good package for him if he gets everything ready, straight, and is with us come fall.”

Mackey said he had joked with offensive coaches about playing other positions. He seemed to embrace the move.

As far as his quarterback play this spring, “It's been kind of tough, a whole new system, a lot of thinking to do, a lot of reads and all that stuff. That little package for me is good enough, being at receiver, playing a little running back. That will be good enough for me.”