Ole Miss Football: 5 reasons Shea Patterson is a real Heisman contender

OXFORD, MS - SEPTEMBER 02: Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels throws the ball during the first half of a game against the South Alabama Jaguars at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on September 2, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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COLLEGE STATION, TX – NOVEMBER 12: Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels throws a pass in warmups before playing the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on November 12, 2016 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /

2. Shea Patterson will be throwing a lot in 2017

Ole Miss does not have high expectations this year. The Rebels and the Baylor Bears have some recovering and rebuilding to do with their respective programs before returning to the top of their conferences.

With that, Patterson will be fighting from behind quite a bit. He’ll put up the stats necessary to win some awards. Whether that is good enough to win a Heisman has yet to be seen. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson showed that putting up video game stats while winning only nine or 10 games gets you the Heisman.

Throwing for over 400 yards each week would put Patterson in prime position to be a Heisman finalist. The uphill battle he has facing him because of the consequences the NCAA put on the Ole Miss program makes huge stats that much more important.

Considering he threw 35 passes in a big victory over a Group of Five opponent, it’s anyone’s best guess how many he’ll throw against SEC competition.

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