Former Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead dead at 32

Former Rebel quarterback Jevan Snead has passed away, according to a report out of Austin, Tex.

ABC affiliate KVUE posted a story in the last hour detailing that the Austin police are investigating the death, which occurred overnight. Initially, there is no evidence of foul play, according to the report.

Snead, 32, started at quarterback for two seasons at Ole Miss, leading the Rebels to back-to-back Cotton Bowl victories and 18 wins. Jevan threw for 2,762 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore then followed that up with a great year as a junior, throwing for 2,632 yards and 20 touchdowns. Still, he was viewed as too inconsistent. He then entered the NFL draft and skipped his senior season and was then signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Stephenville, Tex. native transferred to Ole Miss from the University of Texas where he had battled Colt McCoy for the starting job after the departure of Vince Young. Snead’s arrival in Oxford was very much needed after years of sketchy QB play and his success breathed new life into the program.

For the Cup, our group of bloggers went to see Snead and the Rebs completely dismantle LSU in 2008, 31-13, in Baton Rouge. Snead played like a man possessed that day, and we will undoubtedly remember that performance for many years to come.

In high school, Jevan Snead posted a 23-2 career record at Stephenville, earned Parade Magazine All-American honors as a senior, an invite to the Elite 11 Finals, and ultimately chose to sign with the Texas Longhorns over notable offers from Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M. Snead was also a U.S. Army All-American and finished the all-star game with, at the time, the second-most passing yards in the history of that game, throwing for 147 yards and two touchdowns.

Snead was ranked 11th on the American-Statesman’s Fab 55 as a senior and was considered Texas’ biggest quarterback recruit since Vince Young. The legend of Snead began to grow before he stepped foot on campus in Austin or Oxford when he went toe-to-toe against former Georgia Bulldog and current Detroit Lion, Matthew Stafford, in the 4A semifinals. Both Stafford and Highland Park and Snead and Stephenville were 13-0 and played one of the greatest high school games of the modern era.

Snead, the country’s No. 8 overall prospect at quarterback, put on a show along with Stafford in front of 20,000 people at Apogee Stadium in Denton, Tex.

Snead completed 16-of-32 passes for 272 yards for three touchdowns (and one score on the ground) and Stafford completed 21-of-29 passes for 336 yards and four touchdowns, including the winning toss with just seven seconds remaining, securing a 41-38 win.

It is tragic to hear the news of his passing at such a young age, and the Cup sends its thoughts, prayers, and condolences to his family.

Stick with us through any more breaking news involving the untimely passing of Jevan Snead.