Almost five years after creating a buzz with the news that he would transfer to Ole Miss, Jevan Snead is still a story line.

I found it interesting that Houston Nutt's first response to the “how did you get here” question was Jevan Snead.

“Had Jevan Snead come back his senior year, it would have been a tremendous start (to 2010),” Nutt said.

He's right. It would have been a good start, but the issues in 2010 were defense, not offense.

Signing and developing a quarterback might be the second answer to “how did you get here,” not the first. The first is the unusual amount of attrition from the signing classes.

Among that attrition was quarterback Raymond Cotton, a 2009 signee. His departure in the summer of 2010 set in motion the events to bring in Jeremiah Masoli, and Nutt earned the reputation of a “transfer friendly” coach.

Aside from Snead's spotty success, quarterback has been a troubling position for Ole Miss since the end of the Eli Era. Might things have been different now had Cotton remained and won the job?

The position will likely start over again next year. Randall Mackey may have an edge in experience, a big edge if he elevates his play in the last three games. Or Zack Stoudt and Barry Brunetti could reenter the picture depending on the new coach, his schemes and offensive line improvement.