Ole Miss Football: Jordan Ta’amu Could Wind Up On 2018 Heisman Watch

Ole Miss football has a history of great QBs and has never had a Heisman winner in Oxford but Jordan Ta’amu could wind up in the 2018 Heisman watch.

Ole Miss football has always been known for producing great college quarterbacks and a number have found themselves in the Heisman watch only to come up as finalists. In fact four former Ole Miss quarterbacks have finished as finalists in the Heisman Trophy selection. Legends Charley Conerly, Jake Gibbs, and Archie and Eli Manning all saw themselves in the Heisman race while they were calling plays in Oxford. Is it impossible to think it could happen again?

Now fast forward 15 years from Eli Manning’s 3rd place finish in 2003 to the present starter for Ole Miss, senior Jordan Ta’amu. Jordan Ta’amu was named starter after the LSU game in 2017 and has since been a huge bright spot at the QB position for the Rebels. When Ta’amu first stepped foot on the field in the 2017 Grove Bowl Ole Miss fans knew we had a good QB should his name get called and when it did Ta’amu stepped up.

To say Ta’amu was impressive in his 5 starts is really an understatement and as Rebels QB helped engineer wins in 3 out of the last 4 games in 2017 to get Ole Miss to a 6-6 record. His final 2017 game was a 31-28 Egg Bowl win over No.14 Miss State where he passed for 247 yards and 2 TDs while showing off his arm on the deep ball to wide open receivers. Ta’amu finished the 2017 season completing 115 of 173 attempts for 1,682 yards and 11 TDs while only throwing 4 INTs. Those are extremely impressive numbers for just 5 starts. But 2018 is a new season.

Ta’amu Gets National Attention

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Out of Pearl City, Hawaii Jordan Ta’amu has garnered the attention of some of the toughest critics in the college football world. Ta’amu has been named to both the 2018 Polynesian Player of the Year Award and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch lists. The Polynesian Player of the Tear award is presented annually to the top Polynesian player in the nation who exemplifies their strict codes of conduct and ethics.

The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is also presented annually to who is normally considered the very best quarterback in the nation. The winner must also meet specific guidelines which the selection committee uses to determine the award winner. For Ta’amu to even be considered for either of these awards speaks not just to his athletic ability but also the type of young man Ole Miss quarterback Jordan Ta’amu truly is.

So Why Jordan Ta’amu?

This preseason the better question for Ole Miss football fans has been why not Ta’amu for Heisman? First and foremost Jordan Ta’amu is an incredibly gifted athlete who can play the position as well as any quarterback. He has a very accurate arm and can throw any pass on the field. As a runner he is very fast and can make big plays with his legs. Ta’amu reads coverages very well and goes thru his check downs well. Any success the Rebels see on the field in 2018 will be a direct result of Ta’amu and his expertise at the QB position.

OK so we know Ta’amu is a great quarterback and this season the early Heisman prediction is the trophy will go to a quarterback in 2018. Ta’amu is as equally talented and gifted as any of the 14 quarterbacks listed in 247Sports top Heisman favorites. Of course, none of those 14 QBs operate one of the top offenses in the nation. Nor do they play behind one of the largest and most experienced offensive lines in the nation. Also none of them have access to the most polarizing group of wide receivers in the nation, the NWO.

Had Jordan Ta’amu started the entire season in 2017 his numbers would have flirted at or over 4,000 yards and 20+ TDs while only throwing  9 INTs. For the Rebels to have that kind of QB with the offense he has around him in 2018 will surely result in some gaudy numbers for Ta’amu. With Ta’amu at QB this will be a season to remember for Ole Miss fans and just maybe Ta’amu can find himself in a Heisman hunt somewhere 2018.

Riding The Ta’amu Heisman Wave

So is all the Ta’amu for Heisman talk crazy? Not at all. In fact there are plenty of Rebels fans see the 2018 as a ‘perfect storm’ just waiting to happen for Ta’amu. The Rebels success in the 2018 Ole Miss football season could easily create a Ta’amu Wave in the Heisman race and really shake things up in the second half of the season. Ole Hotty Toddy is not the only fansite which sees and believes in the very obvious.

TheRebelWalk contributor Courtney Smith was one of the first Ole Miss writers to objectively look at the Ta’amu for Heisman matter and we echo his thoughts. The Ole Miss offense is going to be very fast and very good, scoring points quickly and in bunches. With the protection and weapons Ta’amu has he will be able to pick opposing defenses apart and will be able to get plenty of great exposure should the Rebels find success on the field. For now we wait, watch and wait some more.

The Ta’amu Heisman Wave begins September 1 in Houston as the Rebels take on the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. We look forward to seeing Jordan and the rest of the Rebels get started. Good luck to Jordan Ta’amu and the Rebels in the 2018 Ole Miss football season. Ta’amu for Heisman! Hotty Toddy!