The Potential of Shea Patterson

Ole Miss currently faces some serious rule violation allegations from the NCAA, 21 of them in fact. From money-bribing players to recruiting issues, they are such terrible accusations that the Ole Miss athletic department decided to self impose a one year post season ban and give up 11 football scholarships over the next 3 years.

Not one player has transfered out of Ole Miss because of these charges. Talk about loyalty to your program and to the Head Coach, Hugh Freeze.

Last season for Ole Miss can be compared to rolling down a steep hill. You're rolling and tumbling down until you get to the point where your tumble is no longer controlled, but you are still rolling, and you can't stop. After a controlled tumble with close losses to Florida State and Alabama, Ole Miss fell out of control as they dropped 3 straight to Arkansas, LSU and Auburn, and then lost their starting quarterback, Chad Kelly, to a torn ACL.

Enter Shea Patterson.

Patterson was a redshirt freshman recruit, who had been sitting all season. Freeze knew Patterson was his best option to fill Kelly's quarterback position. So after talking it over with Patterson and his family, Freeze pulled the redshirt off, and stuck him into action game 10 at Texas A&M.

Ole Miss fell behind 21-3. Patterson was struggling against the ferocious front of the Aggies, led by Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Then, magic happened.

Patterson hit Damore'ea Stringfellow on a 6 yard score that made every best play highlight reel last season. Rolling right before reversing field and simply outrunning the Texas A&M defense, Patterson threw across his body and hit his man in the end zone to open up the 4th quarter. Then, the race was on.

Patterson opened up the game, his running ability let Akeem Judd break a 21 yard score to bring it to 21-19, as Ole Miss failed to convert the game tying 2 point conversion. Then, Jake Hubenak, A&M's backup quarterback replacing their injured starter, Trevor Knight, hit Josh Reynolds from 13 yards out. A&M moved up 28-19.

It only took Patterson and company a minute and a half to respond with Van Jefferson's 32 yard catch for a score, and it was 28-26.

Then Kicker Gary Wunderlich, with 37 seconds left, connected on a 39 yard field goal try. And Ole Miss had done it. In Patterson's first start, he led Ole Miss to their final win of the season, a come from behind thriller.

His frame and playing style reminds everyone of a certain young Heisman winner from a few years ago who was one of College Football's most explosive players ever... Johnny Manziel. Patterson has the speed to get to the edge and the arm talent to throw darts on the run. He is fluid, possibly even more fluid then Manziel, with the ball and doesn't get sacked too often. He plays from the pocket better, and may even be a better field general.

Patterson looked solid in Spring Practice, his release point has even improved and is going higher. He's worked up some chemistry with the Ole Miss receiving corps, especially with Van Jefferson and AJ Brown.

Where is his ceiling? It's pretty high up in the air, especially considering his traits and talents already.

At 6'2", Patterson is basically a bigger version of Johnny Football. He has the running ability, the deep ball accuracy, the big play ability. He has the arm. He's thrown for more then 300 yards in 2 of his 3 career collegiate starts. His fit in the offensive system is key, as he plays in a pass first offense that now boasts his run ability. He can open the ground game for running backs because of his big play potential. His mechanics are very impressive for a player of his experience.

His ceiling is sky high. We might be hearing his name called Day One of an NFL Draft, maybe even after these next two short seasons.

He does have his weaknesses, however. His accuracy needs to get better. Sometimes he will lead a receiver too far or throw the ball too far behind. His decision making needs to be better. He's thrown 3 career INT's, and another boneheaded one in the Spring Game close to the Red Zone, where he tried to force the ball to DJ Metcalf in the end zone. Last, but not least, he's lanky. He really needs to gain another 15 to 20 pounds.

Patterson just has the "it" factor. When you watch him play, you leave him feeling like you have seen the next big thing in college football. He has so much potential sitting in his bones, he could be a Heisman winner as soon as this year. His offensive line might not be the strongest in the SEC, but he has a trio of receivers (Jefferson, Brown and Metcalf) who can support him in his run this season. He has his big play run ability. Escapability. He can stand in the pocket and make throws. He can run and make throws.

His potential ceiling is to be the greatest player in college football. Keep a close eye on Ole Miss and make sure you aren't missing out.