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Alabama Football: 5 Best SEC Quarterbacks not named Jalen Hurts

By Ronald Evans

Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) points against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 9, 2017; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts (2) points against the Clemson Tigers in the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship Game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) carries the ball during the second half of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Oxford, MS, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Shea Patterson (20) carries the ball during the second half of the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mississippi State won 55-20 Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Ole Miss QB – Shea Patterson

The Ole Miss Rebels/Black Bear nation expect Shea Patterson to be a modern day Archie Manning. His three-game college career teases Ole Miss fans that Patterson is the savior for a looming NCAA plagued era.

Patterson was a composite 5-Star, No. 1 rated Pro-Style quarterback in the nation. An interesting aside, the primary recruiter for Patterson was Dan Werner, now an Alabama football offensive analyst.

As a backup to Chad Kelly, Patterson did not see action until the last three 2016 games. Replacing an injured Kelly, Patterson led a come-from-behind victory over Texas A&M. Playing the Aggies on the road in his first college game, Patterson threw for 338 yards and ran for 64 more.

With additional NCAA sanctions ahead for Ole Miss, Patterson became the top Ole Miss recruit in 2016 and 2017. In similar situations, many highly sought quarterbacks would have transferred to an unencumbered program.

Ole Miss fans love him for sticking. He is a dynamic player, often compared to the elusiveness and imagination of Johnny Manziel. Coping with precarious fortune, Ole Miss fans don’t need any Manziel-like, off-field drama.

It matters little to Ole Miss fans that Patterson has won only one game in his college career. Optimism is high in Oxford. Another reason for Ole Miss fans to be optimistic is new offensive coordinator, Phil Longo.

Longo is an “Air-Raid” offense devotee who is making a big step up from the FCS to the SEC. Check out our profile of him in the SEC’s new offensive coordinators.

In an interview in SEC Country, Longo had this to say about Shea Patterson and his offensive system:

"“It’s a skill player-driven system. We create space both horizontally and vertically. Shea is a great space football player. He’s mobile. He can make any throw on the field. He can run the ball and he can extend plays in the pass game with his legs. To put an athletic guy that can think and throw in this system, it’s a perfect fit.”"

If the Ole Miss Rebels/Black Bears don’t implode first, Oxford may be in for an offensive explosion this fall.

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