2019 NFL Draft: Ole Miss QB Jordan Ta’amu is a sleeper to watch in 2018
Jordan Ta’amu took over as the starting quarterback for the Ole Miss Rebels after Shea Patterson’s injury in 2017. He’ll receive a chance to establish NFL Draft stock in 2018.
The Ole Miss Rebels are one of the most fascinating college football programs in the country. Hugh Freeze flooded the roster with high-level talent and top-ranked recruits, which inevitably resulted in the NCAA investigating the unexpected powerhouse.
As the program attempts to recover from the disastrous ramifications of Freeze’s infractions, Jordan Ta’amu has the unenviable task of leading the charge.
Shea Patterson stunned the Rebels when he announced that he was transferring to play for the Michigan Wolverines. Ole Miss attempted to block the transfer, but Patterson ultimately completed the move to Ann Arbor.
With Patterson out, head coach Matt Luke has turned to Ta’amu to lead the offensive charge during the 2018 season.
Patterson started the first seven games of the 2017 season for the Rebels, but he suffered an injury that sidelined him for the final five outings. Ta’amu filled in admirably, providing balanced contributions and thriving in high-pressure situations.
Ta’amu has yet to start a full season at quarterback, however, and is thus facing reasonable skepticism about his ability to lead the resurgence.
In saying that, Ta’amu showed promise during his his seven appearances and six starts. He ran the ball with efficiency and borderline explosiveness, and showed flashes of being able to operate from the pocket as an accurate passer.
Ta’amu posted an adjusted completion percentage of 76.8, which ranked No. 1 amongst returning SEC quarterbacks.
Jordan Ta'amu took care of the ball last season at Ole Miss pic.twitter.com/peV2XvmSGz
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 4, 2018
A statistic can only tell us so much, but for a player who was essentially asked to learn by fire, that’s an exceptional number.
Ta’amu completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,682 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He averaged 9.7 yards per attempt, which ranked No. 6 in the country—albeit with a smaller sample size than most.
When the Rebels gave Ta’amu a clean pocket to work with, he proved more than capable of slicing and dicing an opposing defense.
Jordan Ta'amu fields the SEC's top adjusted completion % and passer rating from a clean pocket among all returning SEC QBs pic.twitter.com/QKzdxNFkq1
— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 9, 2018
When the pocket collapsed, the 6’2″ dual-threat made opponents pay with his legs—an ability that makes him a riveting 2019 NFL Draft prospect.
Ta’amu ran for 165 yards and four touchdowns during his seven appearances for the Rebels. That includes the 76 yards and two scores he ran for against the Arkansas Razorbacks, and the five total touchdowns he produced against Louisiana.
Ta’amu may not break any rushing records in the SEC, but his ability to tuck the ball and pick up positive yardage is an undeniable plus.
Through the air, Ta’amu has displayed a strong measure of touch and composure. He has issues to sort out, but his unforgettable performance against the Kentucky Wildcats was a clear indication of the type of player Ole Miss has on its roster.
Ta’amu threw for 382 yards and four touchdowns against Kentucky, including the game-winning score to D.K. Metcalf with just five seconds remaining in regulation.
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The question is: Can Jordan Ta’amu follow up his breakout season with a year that proves he deserves 2019 NFL Draft consideration?
It’s fair to believe he will.