Saturday Blitz
Fansided

Ole Miss Football: Jordan Ta’amu could be the best statistical SEC quarterback in 2018

By Andrew Miller

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Ta'amu #10 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs the ball for a touchdown in the first half past Eric Monroe #30 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Ta'amu #10 of the Ole Miss Rebels runs the ball for a touchdown in the first half past Eric Monroe #30 of the Arkansas Razorbacks at Hemingway Stadium on October 28, 2017 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

One part of the Ole Miss football program that should be very entertaining to watch in 2018 is a high-flying passing attack led by Jordan Ta’amu.

Ole Miss football has a tough road ahead in the SEC West for the 2018 campaign. The offense has enough resources to keep up with some of the better teams that will compete in what promises to be the nation’s best division this year. The Rebels posted a solid offense last season under two different quarterbacks and a first-year head football coach in Matt Luke.

This year, one of the things that Ole Miss football fans should be most excited about is a rising senior and former JUCO transfer quarterback Jordan Ta’amu. Last season, the Rebels were put in a bind when the star sophomore quarterback Shea Patterson was knocked out for the rest of the year with a knee injury coming in a loss to the LSU Tigers.

However, Ta’amu pretty much stepped in and immediately made a difference for the Ole Miss offense. His efficiency last year was solid too. The type of stats that Ta’amu posted down the stretch last season would lead some to believe that he’s about to have a pretty massive year in 2018.

He tossed 11 touchdowns to only four interceptions in 2017, while adding four touchdowns on the ground. His athleticism will set him apart from other big time quarterbacks around the SEC like Jake Fromm of the Georgia Bulldogs and Jake Bentley of the South Carolina Gamecocks. That type of athleticism would put him more on par with the likes of Tua Tagovailoa of the Alabama Crimson Tide and Nick Fitzgerald of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

While Ta’amu might wind up better than any of those quarterbacks this season, it’s tough to get a gauge on the outlook of Ole Miss football in 2018. The defense has a lot of turnover to deal with, and the offense loses one of its most consistent contributors from last year’s squad. Senior running back Jordan Wilkins was the first 1,000-yard rusher in nearly 10 years for the Rebels. He helped Ta’amu ease into the offense in a more comfortable fashion.

Yet, Ta’amu will have more than enough resources to succeed in the passing game. Projected top 10 pick for the 2019 NFL Draft, offensive tackle Greg Little, will lead a solid Ole Miss offensive line. And, another projected first round pick for the 2019 NFL Draft in star wide receiver A.J. Brown leads a top tier receiving corps.

Next: Way too early 2019 NFL Mock Draft

Given a full season’s work, Ta’amu should be able to rack up at least 25 total touchdowns while maintaining a good level of efficiency. If he can keep the interception numbers in single digits in 2018, he could be looking at some All-SEC honors by season’s end. Ta’amu appears to be in for a massive season statistically in 2018.

Home/Ole Miss Rebels