Ole Miss Football: Jordan Ta’amu would have beaten out Shea Patterson
Ole Miss football has no quarterback controversy in 2018 thanks to Shea Patterson‘s transfer to Michigan. However, if he were still in Oxford he’d be riding the bench.
The hype surrounding new Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson has reached a fever pitch months before the season arrives. By the time he steps onto the field for the first time wearing maize and blue he’ll be atop Heisman and NFL Draft watch lists. From now til game day, the love will continue to grow and grow.
More: 5 realistic expectations for Shea Patterson at Michigan
Regardless of how many accolades Patterson receives in the preseason, Ole Miss fans can rest in one extremely comforting truth. They kept the better quarterback.
Yes, Patterson was the 5-star, highly regarded prospect coming out of high school. But when it comes to production on a collegiate field the numbers aren’t even close. Jordan Ta’amu, who replaced Patterson when he was injured midway through the season, outperformed the former Rebel across the board.
| Ta’amu | Patterson | |
| Games played | 7 | 10 |
| Completion percentage | 66.5 | 60.7 |
| Yards per attempt | 9.7 | 8 |
| TD:INT ratio | 2.75 | 1.92 |
Both quarterbacks can make plays with their legs, but Ta’amu managed four rushing touchdowns to Patterson’s one in three fewer games. Whether it was on the ground or through the air, the offense moved better under Ta’amu. The Rebels scored no fewer than 24 points after he took over against LSU. Conversely, Patterson’s units were held under 24 points in five of his 10 appearances.
Throw out the prestige and the acclaim, if Patterson had returned to Oxford in 2018 what reason would head coach Matt Luke have to play him over Ta’amu? Not many. Ta’amu has done more with less, leading his team through the disappearance of Hugh Freeze and keeping the Rebels within striking distance in every contest.
Next: Way-too-early 2019 NFL Mock Draft
Ole Miss has one more year of a self-imposed bowl ban, and that won’t be the last of the long recovery looming over the program. One thing they don’t have to worry about, at least for next season, is quarterback. Ta’amu has the position covered, and he would have regardless of whoever else was on the roster behind him.