Former Mississippi starting quarterback Brent Schaeffer has been moved to wide receiver, offensive coordinator Dan Werner said Wednesday.

While coach Ed Orgeron said the move is temporary, it likely clears the way for Seth Adams to take over as the Rebels’ starting quarterback. Adams, Schaeffer and Michael Herrick have been competing for the job since the start of preseason practice last week.

“It comes down to Seth Adams and Michael Herrick right now,” Orgeron said. “It’s really those two guys. We believe in them. They still have a ways to go. We’ve got three weeks, and we’ve got to get better at that position. It’s just not as crisp as we want it.”

Werner said in an article at www.djournal.com that Schaeffer’s move was voluntary and Orgeron called it temporary following afternoon practice.

Orgeron gave Schaeffer the starting job last year the day he signed with Ole Miss in February 2006. He had been a part-time starter at Tennessee before leaving the team for a California junior college.

But Schaeffer was not able to participate in summer workouts and struggled as the starter last season after showing up in Oxford the night before preseason practice started.

He completed 47.1 percent of his passes and threw more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (nine).

Orgeron has questioned Schaeffer’s leadership and hinted at the Southeastern Conference’s Media Days that Schaeffer could be used at receiver. “He volunteered to go out to receiver,” Orgeron said. “He did some good things out there. He still has to work on some things. Were going to give him every opportunity out there to make the first team and be a good player, if that is what we wants to do. He still has to remain consistent in his work habits and everything he does.”