Alabama Football: 5 reasons Crimson Tide won’t be upset Ole Miss
By Zach Bigalke
3. Deionte Thompson will deal Jordan Ta’amu his first interception of 2018
In taking over for Shea Patterson this season at quarterback, Jordan Ta’amu has done a solid job of moving the football and maintaining possession. Ta’amu is completing nearly 70 percent of his passes, while averaging more than 12 yards per attempt along the way.
Most importantly, Ta’amu has thrown seven touchdown passes without a single interception to this point. The Ole Miss quarterback is one of just 16 passers around the country who have attempted at least 50 passes and who have yet to throw a pick. The senior has put up solid numbers in his first attempt to take over the starting role.
Of course, Ole Miss has also played Texas Tech and FCS Southern Illinois so far this season to get to 2-0. The secondary fielded by Alabama is an entirely different beast than what the Red Raiders and Salukis put on the field. Studded with blue-chip talent across the board, the Crimson Tide defensive backfield is going to render Ta’amu mortal on Saturday.
The prime candidate to mete out the first turnover blemish to Ta’amu this season is Deionte Thompson. At this early juncture of the season, the redshirt junior is leading the way for the Crimson Tide in pass breakups and he is one of three players on Alabama with a pick. He will have at least one interception in this divisional contest.