Ole Miss Football: 3 takeaways from Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State

3. Jordan Ta’amu helps lead Ole Miss to victory in first Egg Bowl

After spending two years at the New Mexico Military Institute, Jordan Ta’amu was one of the key junior-college transfers landed by Ole Miss ahead of the 2017 season. He was expected to spend plenty of time on the bench, as incumbent starter Shea Patterson took over the full-time role after Chad Kelly‘s graduation.

But then Patterson was injured against LSU, opening the door for Ta’amu to hit the field. He has put in several strong performances to date, including a three-game stretch against Arkansas, Kentucky, and UL-Lafayette where he threw for more than 350 yards in each game. Ta’amu came up short in the Week 12 loss against Texas A&M, but made up for it with a big performance to claim the Golden Egg for the Rebels.

Ta’amu failed to complete half of his passes, finishing 10-of-22 on the night. He also threw a fourth-quarter interception that allowed Mississippi State to retain hope of a comeback. But when he did connect with his receivers, Ta’amu put up some huge numbers. The junior-college transfer threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 24.7 yards per completion.

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The next full-time coach in Oxford could have some tough decisions to make next year. Patterson has looked great when he is on the field. But Ta’amu has proven his worth to the Rebels as well, helping lead them to a 3-2 record as the starter. He also offers a potential running threat that brings a different element to the field. Either way, it won’t be an easy call to make for the next coach thanks to Ta’amu’s performance in Starkville on Thanksgiving.