Even though he was suddenly thrust into the starting role in 2016 as a true freshman, Shea Patterson was a highly celebrated 5-star recruit.

As a result, Patterson enjoyed immediate success at quarterback for Ole Miss taking over for the record-breaking Chad Kelly. This season, before he was lost due to a knee injury, he was averaging a sensational 322.7 yards passing per game.

On the other hand, Patterson’s replacement at QB, Jordan Ta’amu, was a relatively unheralded 3-star signee — from the JUCO ranks, no less. He came to the Rebels after being offered by the likes of Eastern Kentucky, Minnesota, New Mexico and Southern Miss. With Patterson atop the depth chart, Ta’amu probably figured to be a clipboard-carrying backup.

Instead, after three starts, Ta’amu has a passer efficiency rating 179.3. If he had enough attempts to qualify, he’d be atop the SEC and third in all of America.

In seven starts, Patterson’s rating was 151.5. He also doesn’t have enough attempts to qualify, but if he did, he’d be just fifth in the conference and 20th nationally. While his 17 touchdown passes were pretty, he also had 9 interceptions.

Ta’amu has 7 TDs vs. only 2 INTs, plus his yards-per-attempt average of 10.6 outshines Patterson’s 8.7. On top of that, Ta’amu is completing 73.5 percent of his passes, which would be No. 1 in the country — Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, the clear Heisman Trophy frontrunner, leads the land at 71.2 — with more live bullets fired.

We know Mississippi runs a signal caller-friendly system, but it’s safe to say that Ta’amu has exceeded expectations so far.

“I’ve been very impressed with Jordan,” Rebs interim coach Matt Luke said Wednesday on the league’s weekly coaches teleconference. “It was obvious that he had ability. You know that he could throw. He could run it, hurt you with his legs. I guess what you didn’t know was his poise in the pocket and then leadership capabilities.”

We know Mississippi runs a signal caller-friendly offense, but it's safe to say that Ta'amu has exceeded expectations so far.

The scheme in Oxford always performs better with a dual-threat option taking the snap, and Ta’amu has supplemented his passing with 32 carries for 149 yards. He scored twice on the ground against both Arkansas and Louisiana.

Needless to say, leadership is needed right now at Ole Miss. The NCAA was already swirling above — further sanctions from the sport’s governing body might be announced soon — before former coach Hugh Freeze exited in embarrassing fashion this past July. A self-imposed bowl ban was put in place quite some time ago, too.

The Rebels could’ve been a mess on the field, especially after Patterson went down, but Ta’amu is riding a two-game winning streak.

“He’s a very laid-back, almost shy kid,” Luke said. “To see that the energy and that passion on the field, that’s something you didn’t see in practice. I’ve been very impressed with him, and you couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Credit: John Reed-USA TODAY Sports

Remember, Patterson (above) was the top-rated player in the country at the game’s most important position for his class. He wrapped up his high school career at the very prestigious IMG Academy, which is a breeding ground for Power 5 athletes.

That being said, what does it say about Patterson that Ta’amu has been every bit as effective, it not more so? To be fair, Patterson was in the lineup when Mississippi battled Alabama, Auburn and LSU — they’re first, third and fifth, respectively, in the SEC in total defense. Ta’amu has faced Kentucky (ninth) and Arkansas (12th) instead.

"We do have a veteran O-Line. We have a senior running back and a stable of good receivers, so I do think that helps. But the trigger guy, we ask him to do a lot. And he's got to make a bunch of decisions in a hurry, and he's done a great job on his decision-making process." -- Matt Luke

A cynic would say that it doesn’t matter who the Rebs start. This is six straight years now in the conference’s Top 5 for passing offense.

“That’s a very, very important position, and we’re fortunate on offense,” Luke said. “But we do have a veteran O-Line. We have a senior running back and a stable of good receivers, so I do think that helps. But the trigger guy, we ask him to do a lot. And he’s got to make a bunch of decisions in a hurry, and he’s done a great job on his decision-making process.”

With Texas A&M at home Saturday and then Mississippi State on the road in Week 13, 5-5 Ole Miss has a chance to finish .500 or better. All things considered, that’s not too bad for Luke since he’s never been a head coach before at any level.

As far as the future at quarterback is concerned, anything’s possible for the Rebels. Patterson has been loyal despite all the chaos around him — he was close to Freeze and could’ve followed him out the door — so he’ll presumably get his job back once he’s healthy. Still, Ta’amu has played well enough to perhaps make spring practice an open competition.

Naturally, the situation is complicated by the fact that only one QB can play. It’s part of what makes the position so unique.

“Both those kids, we’re just fortunate to have two guys that can probably play in a bunch of different places,” Luke said.

While it can be uncomfortable to speculate about such things, we live in an age when a pseudo signal-caller free agency happens every offseason. Another 5-star passer from Patterson’s class, Jacob Eason, is a possible transfer candidate at Georgia.

It wouldn’t be a shock if Mississippi had both Patterson and Ta’amu on its roster for 2018. Just the same, the Rebs may only have one of them. It’s not unthinkable that both could be gone, as well. If the NCAA brings the hammer down with further scholarship restrictions and postseason bans, then everyone could be seeking greener pastures.

Ta’amu has indeed been a pleasant surprise, although it remains to be seen what role he’ll play in 2018, if any.