ARLINGTON, Texas - As Jan. 1 comes racing into view, you're likely to find Jevan Snead ready to shake hands with Baby New Year. The 2009 season had its bumps in the road.

The 2010 season will present either a chance for redemption at Ole Miss or a change of scenery in the NFL.

He has a decision to make.

It was on this stage a year ago, near his hometown of Stephenville, Texas, that Snead emerged into the consciousness of the college football nation.

He passed for 292 yards and three touchdowns, capping an impressive run to close his first season as a starting quarterback.

Expectations for Snead and Ole Miss rocketed skyward.

Overcoming losses at offensive line and receiver proved more difficult than many believed, and keeping the ball in the hands of his own receivers has been more difficult that Snead might have believed. He heads into Saturday's game against Oklahoma State with his 17 interceptions more than anyone else among the top 100 quarterbacks ranked by the NCAA.

There are Ole Miss fans who assume his struggles will lead him back to Oxford, others who see the picks and would like to see a younger player under center, even though Snead would go into next season with 26 starts.

"They don't understand. They just don't," offensive coordinator Kent Austin said. "I played the position. You don't have an understanding of how valuable that is unless you played the position. You really don't. It's one of the most unique positions in all of sports."

In spite of the turnovers, Austin says Snead has experienced growth this season, growth in how he's handled adversity that came through high expectations, the loss of left tackle Michael Oher and deep threat Mike Wallace, and ultimately, the depletion of the receiver position when Dexter McCluster was moved to running back.

Austin is adamant, too, that Snead's best football - whether it's played at Ole Miss or someplace else - is still in front of him.

The fact that Snead is ranked eighth among SEC starters in pass efficiency won't necessarily affect his draft status.

"Scouts in the NFL now are pretty savvy. They'll look at the body of work, and they'll look at the environment he was in for each game and the complexion of that game. They're not just going to sit down and look at his yards, touchdowns and interceptions," Austin said. "They'll look at his ability to transfer his skills and knowledge to the next level, especially to a system that they think fits him."

Snead on Sunday appeared off guard, slightly, by the NFL question and answered it as most players do this time of year.

"My focus right now is on the Cotton Bowl," he said.

Austin says he expects Snead to get an evaluation of where he might land in the draft. As late as November, that was still late in the first or early in the second round in the opinion of long-time draft analyst Mike Detilier, who projected Snead as the top overall pick after last year's Cotton Bowl. His arm strength still makes him an intriguing pick.

There are things Snead can improve on by returning for a senior season. He lists decision-making and timing as his targeted areas.

The improvement angle applies to almost all players. Not many enter the NFL with nothing to work on.

The future for Snead may be determined by what he hears about his stock in the coming weeks and what advice he receivers from his inner circle, a group that may or may not include Austin.

It will include his parents and his high school coach, Snead says.

"We're still very close. We'll sit down and look at things," he said.

Austin says he'll offer advice if asked and will support Snead in whatever decision he makes.

Should Snead decide to return, his struggles do not mean he has any less an iron grip on the starting job or that a backup will gain any more meaningful snaps in 2010.

That will occur only if Austin and head coach Houston Nutt find a competitive advantage in using a reserve player.

"The emphasis will be to win. I understand that you have to do that when the opportunity presents itself to get the next guy ready. At the same time we're in a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business. We have to win football games," Austin said.

Austin remains a firm believer that Snead - on Saturday against Oklahoma State and also next season - gives the Rebels their best chance.

Parrish Alford (parrish.alford@djournal.com) covers Ole Miss for the Daily Journal. He blogs daily about Ole Miss athletics at NEMS360.com.