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SEC Football 2017: Biggest x-factor for every team

By Trey Daubert

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 31: Head Coach Nick Saban (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images) /
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SEC Football
OXFORD, MS – NOVEMBER 26: Shea Patterson #20 of the Mississippi Rebels throws a pass during a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 26, 2016 in Oxford, Mississippi. The Bulldogs defeated the Rebels 55-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Ole Miss – Shea Patterson

Shea Patterson holds the keys to the season for Mississipi making him the biggest x-factor. With the impending infractions facing Ole Miss via former head coach Hugh Freeze’s incident. Patterson is Ole Miss’ most valuable player and could turn the season upside down if he were to transfer. The transfer seems unlikely given the fact that the NCAA has not allowed the players to leave the program without having to sit out a year.

Patterson took over for Chad Kelly late in the season after he went down via a season ending knee injury. Patterson was able to showcase just how talented he is throwing for 880 yards on 54.5 percent completion in three games. He also recorded a 6-3 touchdown to interception ratio. Despite being a just a freshman in 2016, Patterson is already the best quarterback in the SEC. Yes, Patterson is the best quarterback, or at least has the best arm in the conference anyway.

Replacing Kelly for a full season will be no easy task. Don’t forget, Kelly is the guy who beat Alabama in 2015. Losing your head coach just before the start of the season doesn’t help matters either.

Patterson is listed at 6-foot-2 but may not be that nearly that tall as schools always play that game. That could very well limit his NFL draft positioning despite having a rocket arm. Then again, all the tools are there for Patterson. He wasn’t a five-star recruit and the number one quarterback prospect in 2015 for no reason. Patterson is no longer faced with just having a good season, he has to turn the Ole Miss program around and make it a place where future recruits will want to play.

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