Arkansas at Mississippi

Rebels remodel offense after injury

Mississippi running back Jordan Wilkins (22) runs upfield for a 28-yard touchdown run against LSU in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. No. 24 LSU won 40-24. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mississippi running back Jordan Wilkins (22) runs upfield for a 28-yard touchdown run against LSU in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Oxford, Miss., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. No. 24 LSU won 40-24. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

FAYETTEVILLE -- The teams at the bottom of the SEC West look to stage a battle of the back-up quarterbacks Saturday in Oxford, Miss.

But just because the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-5, 0-4) are not likely to have senior quarterback Austin Allen and Ole Miss (3-4, 1-3) definitely won't have SEC passing leader Shea Patterson doesn't automatically mean the game will be dull.

Cole Kelley has infused high energy and the threat of downhill quarterback runs into the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville's offense while the 6-7 freshman has learned on the go against two of the SEC's best defenses: No. 1 Alabama and No. 21 Auburn.

Ole Miss junior Jordan Ta'amu has taken over the Rebels' up-tempo, pass-heavy Spread attack coordinated by Phil Longo. He is scheduled to make his first start against the Razorbacks at 11 a.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

"Jordan is a dual-threat guy," Ole Miss interim Coach Matt Luke said. "He's a very, very good athlete. He's definitely a capable thrower. He was really an unknown to everybody until last week."

Ta'amu completed 7 of 11 passes for 78 yards while working two series in the Rebels' 40-24 home loss to LSU.

"He's very capable," Arkansas cornerback Henre Toliver said. "He's a big dude and he can sling it. Very accurate. He'll also use his feet, so we have to respect the run game from the quarterback."

Ta'amu, a native of Pearl City, Hawaii, racked up 3,014 passing yards, 328 rushing yards and 39 touchdowns while playing at New Mexico Military Institute last year. He earned a three-star rating in 247Sports's composite rankings and went through spring practice at Ole Miss.

The 6-2, 212-pounder steps in for the Patterson, who led the SEC with 2,259 passing yards before the former five-star recruit suffered a torn knee ligament on a non-contact play late in the first half against LSU.

Ta'amu's results have already been solid, as he led scoring drives at the end of each half against the Tigers.

"I felt confident as soon as I went in," Ta'amu said.

"From the tape I've seen, I think he's a pretty good quarterback," Arkansas defensive line coach John Scott Jr. said. "He's able to throw the ball pretty well. He had a couple of runs against LSU. He seems like he plays with a lot of poise and a lot of confidence. I think he'll be a good challenge for us this week."

Ta'amu directed a 10-play, 66-yard drive in the final seconds of the first half. He had a 15-yard run to the LSU 18 and completed passes covering 14 and 9 yards to Van Jefferson on the series, which ended on Gary Wunderlich's 26-yard field goal on the final play of the half to pull Ole Miss within 13-6.

After Patterson went out for good in the fourth quarter, Ta'amu deftly handled a 9-play, 66-yard touchdown drive. He went 5 for 5 on the series for 55 yards and had a 7-yard run that reached the LSU 4 on the penultimate play of the drive. De'Vaughn Pennamon scored on the ground on the next snap.

"After getting that touchdown I was more than pumped," Ta'amu said. "I knew I could run this offense. It was pretty exciting."

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema was complimentary of Ta'amu's first extended action.

"When you pop on the film you see an offense that didn't change much when he came in," Bielema said. "He ran the ball on a designed quarterback draw and it went for big [yards].

"He's got a live arm. ... They've got a system in place that I think they'll stay with. It involves the quarterback run game, but also involves the quarterback sitting in the pocket and being a pretty detailed passing game as well, so we've got our work cut out for us."

Arkansas linebacker Dre Greenlaw called Ta'amu a good athlete.

"He throws the ball around just like No. 20 [Patterson] does," Greenlaw said. "He's gonna give us the same threat. We've got to be aware of the quarterback run."

Luke said the Rebels don't plan on getting too fancy with Ta'am's responsibilities.

"I think we just have to be careful because he doesn't have a lot of experience," Luke said. "We've got to be smart with what we ask him to do.

"I think we've got to ask him to use his legs a little more in the run game, as opposed to scrambling like Shea did. I think just trying to use his athleticism, because he can hurt you when he pulls the ball down. ... We're not changing a whole bunch, if that makes sense."

Ta'amu said he was devastated when he heard the news that Patterson was out for the rest of the season and would need knee surgery.

"I wouldn't wish that upon anybody," he said. "He talked to me, telling me I've got to be ready and all that. Right now I'm confident I can take this road as starting quarterback. He's been saying, 'Just go out there and do your thing. I know you can run this offense like I did.'"

Ta'amu will have a lesser-used but capable running game and one of the nation's tallest sets of receivers at his disposal.

Among the Rebels top receivers -- A.J. Brown, Van Jefferson, DaMarkus Lodge and D.K. Metcalf -- only Brown is shorter than 6-2, while the freshman Metcalf is a sturdy 6-4, 225-pounder.

Brown has 39 catches for 717 yards and 6 touchdowns. Jefferson, Lodge and Metcalf all have at least 26 receptions -- one fewer than Arkansas' leading pass catcher Jonathan Nance -- and have combined for 1,118 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.

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Sports on 10/27/2017

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