Interview: 2017 QB Jordan Ta’amu has NMMI Undefeated Leading NJCAA in Passing Yards

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Few players truly take advantage of all opportunities presented to them. The prevailing thought is one has to be on the field, learning on the fly, to take advantage of opportunities to grow as a player. For Jordan Ta’amu, he recognized an opportunity presented to him, even though he was holding a clipboard on the sidelines, but took full advantage of the learning experience. Now the Class of 2017 quarterback is leading the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in passing yards, passing yards per game, and touchdowns.

Ta’amu spent most of his freshman season on the sidelines watching and learning how New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI) runs their spread offense. He got some time in on the field appearing in four games completing 3 of 5 passes for 20 yards with a touchdown and without an interception. He also rushed four times for 15 yards. The output was a far cry from his days at Pearl City High School in Hawaii where he helped lead his squad to an 8-3 mark during his senior season.

Now the 6-3, 205 pound, all-around quarterback is the man for NMMI passing for a NJCAA leading 350.7 yards per game, a leading 1,052 total yards passing, and a leading 15 touchdowns tossed through three games. The time on the sidelines appears to have helped Ta’amu immensely. In the early stages of his sophomore season, he shows next level poise, headiness, and a savvy playmaking ability. His stat line is gaudy not because he drops back to throw 50 times a game, but because he makes the heads-up play looking off or luring in defenders buying time with his eyes and feet while opening up passing lanes for his receivers as needed.

Ta’amu has already started drawing interest from Division-I programs and is sure to extend interest to multiple offers if NMMI continues to win and the Hawaii native maintains his current progression on the field. Some of the interested includes Hawaii, New Mexico, Minnesota, and Oregon among others.

In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I sat down with one of the rising stars in the 2017 JUCO ranks to get insight on his abilities on the field and his recruitment to date.

Interview

Jordan, how has your high school career helped you so far at the junior college level?

“I’ve been playing quarterback my whole life. In high school, I really started learning the game and how to throw the ball within the offense. I kept practicing and working to get better. My coaches helped me a lot. I had a great experience with great coaches (at Pearl City). They helped me out a lot helping me become the player I am today.”

What type of offense did you run in high school?

“We ran a spread offense, similar to Oregon and NMMI – a read option. We would spread the defense out to pick them apart. I am a dual-threat. If there is an open hole I am taking off. I can always use my feet worse comes to worst.”

You have a really nice flow to start the season, what has contributed to the hot start?

“Just sitting back last year watching the starting quarterback. I would observe him to see what he did well and what he could have done better. That helped me a lot. I took a lot of mental notes. Through the summer, I was fixing the things I needed to work on. I worked on throwing the ball more accurately. Learning the plays and the offense better made it easy to come out as strong as we have this year.”

You have touched on some of the things you do well as a quarterback, but how would you describe your strengths on the field?

“One of my strengths is the ability to use my feet if I need to. I can extend plays for our team and for the receivers. We do a lot of film work at NMMI. We watch to see how the defense plays so we can see what we can do on offense. I read plays well and go through my progressions. I’ve been working on my reads, even pre-snap knowing what will be open. I just make sure I know where the defense is going so I can put our team in a position to win.”

Understanding that everyone wants to win a championship, what are your goals for the 2016 football season?

“My goal is to be an All-Conference player and to get a D-I scholarship. Those are my personal goals.”

Which schools are showing interest in you?

“Minnesota, they have been contacting me and asking about my transcripts. Florida A&M and UCF – I’ve been sending them my highlights from each game. Adams State asked me if I would consider D-II. The Lobos (New Mexico) and Hawaii – they are keeping in touch.”

Do you have any offers at this time?

“I have one to Adams State.”

What type of feedback have you received from these colleges?

“They say they like my film and the way I mesh (read off potential handoff to running back) with my option. They like the trust I have with my receivers. They tell me to keep it up and they will be in contact and that they are watching my film.”

Back to NMMI and your play on the field, how do you feel about your play on the field so far this season?

“I know we can do better as a team and I know I can do better. Against Cisco (Texas), we could have done better and had more yards even though we won big (51-7). We have got to keep practicing and working hard so we can keep winning games.”

You guys are off to a 3-0 start and putting up a lot of big numbers on offense. But how does NMMI look for the 2016 season?

“I believe we are getting stronger as a team. The coaching staff is really great. They keep telling us it will be hard. We keep working hard and keep working to execute our plays. Everyone has a part to play. As a team we have formed a close bond. We are grinding out there. Our coaches call us ‘Grind-Hogs.’ Our field is the ‘Grind-House’, no one can take that from us. We have to win one game at a time.”

All the games on the schedule are exciting to play, but is there a game coming up that has a little more hype to it for you guys than the others?

“We are excited to play all the games, but I am really looking forward to Trinity (Valley – Oct. 1) and Navarro (Oct. 29). They are two really good teams. We just have to keep going forward week by week.”

Jordan, thanks for your time today and good luck with the rest of your season.

“Thank you.”

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Photo credits: NMMI; No. 10 Jordan Ta’amu in action.