With the National Junior College Athletic Association national championship in the rear-view mirror, East Mississippi Community College quarterback Chad Kelly set his sights on his next mission Wednesday afternoon, verbally committing to play at Ole Miss.

Junior college players who have completed degree work can sign next week and enroll at the senior college of their choice for the spring semester.

Kelly made the announcement via his personal twitter account Wednesday.

On Sunday, Kelly set new junior college career highs with 40 pass completions in 53 attempts as top-ranked EMCC won its third national championship in four seasons with a 34-17 win over No. 2 Iowa Western Community College.

Postgame almost all questions centered around the week ahead.

“I just want to go somewhere that will be a really good fit,” Kelly said. “I have had a lot of good conversations with several different coaches. I just have to have a place where I can step in and contribute right away.”

Kelly, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., transferred to EMCC in the spring semester of 2014 after leaving the Clemson football program. This season at EMCC, Kelly threw for 3,906 yards and 47 touchdowns.

LSU appeared to be the other choice for his services up until the final days. Coaches from both Ole Miss and LSU were in attendance at Sunday’s Mississippi Bowl.

Kelly thew for 434 yards in the win over Iowa Western, which was his second highest-output of the season. The five touchdown passes also matched a season high.

EMCC won all 12 games it played in 2014.

At Ole Miss, Kelly will replace two-year starter Bo Wallace with the Rebels.

Wallace led EMCC to the 2011 national championship before moving on to his career at Ole Miss.

Follow Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott

Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.