If
you lose the battle for the job at defensive end or wide receiver, it’s
a good bet you’ll still be in the type of rotation that means plenty of
playing time and a varsity letter. Miss the mark at running back, and
you could still easily get 10-12 touches a game. The depth chart may
say that Arkansas’ Felix Jones, Clemson’s C.J. Spiller and Cal’s Justin Forsett are backups, but the stat line suggests they’re still very
valuable. Being No. 2 at most any position is not a death blow…unless
you’re a quarterback. Yes, an injury or poor play can change things in
a snap, but the backup quarterback rarely breaks a sweat. Even special
teams, a terrific outlet for the reserve, is off limits. It’s this
feast or famine reality, which is one of the reasons quarterback derbys
are so doggone riveting. Win it, and you’re one step closer to being
the face of a university. Lose it, and anonymity follows you like a bad
rumor.
Quarterback jobs are rarely won in the spring. That doesn’t, however,
mean that long-lasting impressions can’t be made or seeds won’t be
planted in the minds of coaching staffs. Promotions are up for grabs
just about everywhere in 2007, and in places like South Bend, Columbus
and Norman, the outcomes will reverberate far beyond the city limits.
25. Houston – All Art Briles has to do this year is replace Kevin Kolb, a four-year starter and the player that carried the Cougars to
last year’s Conference USA championship. Houston relied on its
quarterback way too much in the past, but that’ll change in 2007 as
either sophomore Blake Joseph or redshirt freshman L.J. Castile takes control of the offense. Joseph has a strong arm,
decent mobility out of the pocket and a valuable year as Kolb’s
understudy. Castile brings an exciting blend of size and speed that’ll
draw comparisons to a real raw Vince Young if he can avoid being moved
to a skill position. One X factor is Al Pena who’s seeking an NCAA
waiver to transfer from Oklahoma State without sitting out a season.
Prediction: Joseph
24. Utah – For the second straight off-season since Alex Smith
left for the NFL, the Utes will hold auditions to determine who’ll start
at quarterback. In 2006, junior Brian Johnson sat out the year
to heal a badly injured knee, clearing the path for Brett Ratliff to win
the job. Now Johnson will be looking to get back to 100%, while holding
off strong-armed senior Tommy Grady who’s seen limited action
since transferring from Oklahoma. Before getting hurt two years ago,
Johnson was beginning to run the spread to perfection, smoking the
Mountain West with his quick feet and accurate right arm.
Prediction: Johnson
23. Ole Miss – Last year, Ed Orgeron handed the starting job to
Brent Schaeffer before the precocious junior-college transfer had
even arrived on campus. This year, the coach is being a little more
judicious in his approach, opening up the quarterback competition to
include junior Seth Adams, a former walk-on that saw action in
six games a year ago. Schaeffer was a mess in 2006, struggling with his
reads and finishing last in the SEC in passing efficiency, but a second
year in the system and with the Rebel receivers should help the senior’s
development. Prized Texas transfer Jevan Snead takes over the
offense in 2008.
Prediction:
Schaeffer
22. Maryland – One-time can’t-miss prospect Jordan Steffy
has the inside track on the job to succeed Sam Hollenbach provided he
can stay healthy and prove he’s finally ready to take control of the
Terp offense. The junior has the athleticism and knowledge of the
system to remain on top until September. Steffy will have to fend off
Josh Portis which will not going to be easy. A sophomore that
transferred from Florida, he’s an athletic 6-4 and a great fit for Ralph Friedgen’s system if he can hone his footwork and timing with the
receivers. Redshirt freshman Jeremy Ricker, who turned down
offers from Oklahoma and Cal, has the best arm of the three, but is
playing from behind at this juncture.
Prediction:
Steffy
21. North Carolina – Senior Joe Dailey and sophomore
Cam Sexton got a chance to run John Bunting’s offense in 2006 and
failed miserably, combining to throw 11 touchdowns to a whopping 18
picks. Dailey will be tried at wide receiver this spring, further
clearing the path for incoming blue-chip freshman Mike Paulus to
have an immediate impact on the Tar Heel offense. The 6-5, 220-pound
hurler is physically ready to compete, but needs to pick up the offense
without the benefit of spring practice and prove to new coordinator John
Shoop that he can limit his mistakes. Even if Sexton holds down the
fort for the first few weeks, you’ll see lots of Paulus before too
long.
Prediction: Paulus
20.
NC State – Marcus Stone began 2006 as the starter, but he’s now a
tight end, leaving junior Daniel Evans, sophomore Harrison Beck and redshirt freshman Justin Burke to battle it out to
see who’ll be Tom O’Brien’s first quarterback in Raleigh. Evans looked
like the future for the Pack after engineering upsets of O’Brien’s
Eagles and Florida State, but regressed badly down the stretch. While
he doesn’t have a cannon, his maturity and leadership skills could be a
nice match with Dana Bible and the basic pro-style offense. Remember
Beck? He was the original Mitch Mustain whose quick exit from Nebraska
was accompanied by some ridiculously inane comments from his mom.
Assuming he’s matured, Beck has the best skill set of any State
quarterback, and is someone the program can build around for the next
three years. Burke will likely open at third string, but should not be
taken lightly. The former record-setting quarterback from Kentucky was
one of the most coveted pocket passer of the Class of 2006.
Prediction: Beck
19.
Colorado – Anyone who watched Bernard Jackson last year
saw a quarterback that looked real uncomfortable in Dan Hawkins’ new
West Coast offense, clicking on less than 50% of his passes in the Big
12’s worst passing offense. He returns a little wiser for his senior
year intent on holding off junior Nick Nelson and redshirt
freshman Cody Hawkins. Nelson is a transfer from Saddleback
Community College where he ran the shotgun spread offense and won lots
of games. His intangibles and rapid retention of the playbook have
really caught the staff’s attention. Hawkins, the coach’s son, is just
5-11 and 190 pounds, but he’s a playmaker and a natural leader which is
what offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich is demanding in 2007.
Prediction: Nelson
18. Pittsburgh – More than any other player in 2007, veteran
quarterback Tyler Palko will be missed for what he brought to the
Panther sideline, huddle and locker room. Palko’s caddy for the last
two seasons, Bill Stull, is the front runner because of his
experience and system knowledge, but has thrown just ten passes in his
career. He’ll split snaps this spring with redshirt freshman Kevan Smith and incoming freshman Pat Bostick to determine a soft
pecking order heading into the summer. Bostick is one of the
highest-rated quarterbacks to ever sign with Pitt and has the tools to
push Stull out of the favorite role.
Prediction: Stull
17. TCU – The only thing that’s guaranteed in the battle to
replace veteran Jeff Ballard is that the Frog offense will be handed
over to an unproven underclassman. Sophomore Marcus Jackson and
a trio of redshirt freshmen, headed by Andy Dalton, have already
begun making their cases for the coaching staff this spring. Jackson
can move the chains with his arm and legs, and picked up valuable
experience in 2006 as Ballard’s backup. Dalton, however, has the edge
as a pocket passer and has shown an aptitude for quickly retaining the
Frog offense.
Prediction:
Jackson
16. Oregon State – Beaver fans that were rooting for the Sean Canfield era to begin last year should get their wish in 2007. The
6-4 southpaw with the nice touch at all ranges is just a sophomore,
making him the undisputed future of the Oregon State program. Last
year’s backup to Matt Moore is the heavy favorite to be in the huddle
when Utah visits Aug. 30. Just don’t tell sophomore Lyle Moevao,
a feisty competitor who’s built more like a fullback than a
quarterback. The 5-11, 230-pound junior college transfer has a good
arm, dances well around the pocket and great leadership qualities. If,
as many Beaver coaches hope, Moevao is the second coming of Jonathan Smith, Canfield won’t be the lock he seems to be five months before the
start of the season.
Prediction: Canfield
15. Washington – Because potential franchise quarterback Jake Locker is involved, this could be the most important derby in recent
Husky history. Fair or not, the redshirt freshman with the golden arm
and the nifty moves outside the pocket is being labeled as a savior
around Seattle provided he can beat out senior Carl Bonnell.
Bonnell is clearly the more experienced of the two, however, he didn’t
impress as Isaiah Stanback’s emergency replacement in 2006 and will miss
spring following shoulder surgery. Unless he proves completely unworthy
of the promotion, Locker is ready to become the face of the U-Dub
program.
Prediction: Locker
14. Minnesota – Bryan Cupito won’t be confused with any of the
Viking quarterbacks, but he was a solid four-year starter for the
Gophers and will be missed. His successor will come from a quartet of
holdovers, most likely either junior Tony Mortensen or redshirt
freshman Adam Weber. As Cupito’s backup in 2006, Mortensen will
begin the race as the early favorite. He’s a nice package of size and
mobility, needing only to show that he can throw with better accuracy.
One of the gems of the 2006 recruiting class, Weber is a terrific
all-around athlete with above average arm strength and the ability to
hits his targets when rolling out in either direction.
Prediction: Mortensen
13. BYU – The job of replacing John Beck is Arizona State
transfer Max Hall’s to lose. The redshirt freshman looks
downright prescient for leaving the desert for Deseret where one year on
the scout team already has him poised for a starting gig. Cougar
defensive players raved last year about the passing ability of Hall who
hails from the same high school that produced Beck and is former Dallas
Cowboy Danny White’s nephew. The job of knocking Hall from his perch is
Snow College transfer Cade Cooper’s, particularly now that Jacob Bower has elected to transfer. A record-setting quarterback and the
National Junior College Offensive Player of the Year, he’s accepted a
promise from Cougar coaches that he’ll receive a scholarship as soon as
one becomes available.
Prediction: Hall
12. LSU – If someone other than former mega-recruit Ryan Perrilloux was the understudy in Baton Rouge, Matt Flynn
would be the slam-dunk choice to succeed JaMarcus Russell. Even without
an official anointing from Les Miles, Flynn is still the prohibitive
favorite to be under center when the Tigers begin another season in
September. A heady and talented senior, he has the total package to
finish his college career with a huge season. Now in his third year,
Perrilloux has to begin displaying some of the gifts that made him one
of the most coveted quarterbacks of the Class of 2005. While he oozes
physical ability, the sophomore might need an epiphany over the next
five months to keep Flynn from finally becoming the starter.
Prediction:
Flynn
11. Oregon – Whether or not Oregon can rebound from last year’s
late-season swoon will depend heavily on the development of skittish
seniors, Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf. Both had their
opportunities to end the debate last fall, but instead raised more
questions by tossing 18 combined interceptions to go along with 18
touchdown passes. An inconsistent receiving corps didn’t help the
signal-callers, however, Mike Bellotti and new offensive coordinator
Chip Kelly are in no mood for excuses. They want a quarterback that can
make plays, while limiting the number of turnovers. Dixon is a
multi-dimensional player with the greater upside, but if his consistency
doesn’t improve real fast, Leaf will become the starter by default.
Prediction:
Dixon
10. Clemson – Will Proctor was just slightly above average as the
starter last year, so Clemson will happily turn the page and begin
auditions for its next quarterback. Can’t-miss recruit Willy Korn
is already on campus and no doubt the future at the position, but
he’ll have to be otherworldly to win the job, particularly with Florida
State looming on opening day. He may, however, be good enough to beat
out junior Tribble Reese and redshirt freshman Michael Wade
for the opportunity to back up likely starter Cullen Harper. The
junior has an underrated arm and is poised at all times, but when
Proctor was struggling last year, it has to mean something that Harper
wasn’t given a chance to step in and contribute.
Prediction:
Harper, with Korn lurking around the corner
9. Wisconsin – Yes, fifth-year senior Tyler Donovan is a
heavy favorite to replace ultra-steady John Stocco at quarterback, but
he is not a lock. While he’s played well as the backup the last two
seasons, his arm strength is questionable, slightly cracking open the
door for Kansas State transfer Allan Evridge to make a bull rush
toward the top of the depth chart. He has junior eligibility, starting
experience in Manhattan and a better skill set than any other Badger
quarterback. That said, Wisconsin has proven for years that it doesn’t
need a prolific passer to win plenty of football games which is another
reason Donovan, the safest pick, will get the nod.
Prediction: Donovan
8. Virginia Tech – Junior Sean Glennon’s grip on the
starting job is a loose one after last year’s 11-touchdown,
11-interception season that was capped by a second-half meltdown in the
Chick-fil-A Bowl. He is the safe choice, but whether he’s the best
choice will depend on the development of sophomore Ike Whitaker,
the more gifted—and greener---of the two primary contenders. Over the
years, the Hokies have been at their best when the quarterback is
unpredictable and versatile, two adjectives that do not describe Glennon.
Whitaker, conversely, is a 6-4 dual-threat with enough upside and
support from the rest of the team to offset his limited experience in
Blacksburg.
Prediction: Whitaker
7. Boise State – Whoever follows in the footsteps of Bart Hendricks, Ryan Dinwiddie and Jared Zabransky will get an unbelievable
opportunity for the national exposure that inherently comes with being
the Boise State quarterback. The quartet of eager candidates includes
senior Taylor Tharp, junior Bush Hamdan, sophomore Nick Lomax and redshirt freshman Mike Coughlin. Tharp has the
most experience and the added benefit of being Zabransky’s roomie the
last two years, but doesn’t have off-the-charts physical traits to pull
away from the field. Hamdan has the best combination of arm strength
and mobility, offsetting concerns about whether he’s got the poise and
demeanor to lead this team. Lomax and Coughlin are tall pocket passes
who can throw the ball a mile, but have no experience with the Broncos.
The last two times Boise had quarterback derbys, the young gun surprised
the long-time vet.
Prediction: Tharp
6. UCLA – Unlike most schools that are replacing a departed
senior, UCLA is embroiled in a quarterback controversy because both
juniors Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan are talented enough to
start for a lot of programs. The job was Olson’s for the first five
games until he sprained his knee in a win over Arizona, essentially
ending his season. Cowan struggled from time to time, but got better as
the season wore on, displaying a strong arm, good mobility and the
intangibles to keep Olson on the sidelines even after his knee had
healed. Karl Dorrell’s assertion that a healthy Olson would get the
ball is going to get tested from spring practice right up until the
starter has his first bad game of 2007.
Prediction: Olson
5. Florida State – While Drew Weatherford is the
incumbent, does the arrival of new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher
give a boost to Xavier Lee? It probably doesn’t hurt to have a
new talent evaluator with a clean slate. Neither junior has been
particularly consistent since arriving from high school as heralded
prospects which is why the competition is wide-open. Until one of the
two can prove he’s capable of consistently sparking the once-prolific
Seminole offense, this debate is not going to die around Tallahassee or
any place else where the sport is discussed.
Prediction: Weatherford
4.
Miami – One of new head coach Randy Shannon’s first really big
decisions will be to decide on his quarterback for 2007. Much like the
situation up in Tallahassee, the Miami offense has been
uncharacteristically feeble the last couple of seasons, putting pressure
on the quarterbacks to perform. Senior Kyle Wright has all the
tools to be the next big thing in a Cane hurler, but has yet to live up
to expectations. That’s created an opportunity for junior Kirby Freeman who finished well in Miami’s bowl game and refuses to go
down without a fight. The two contenders have not been chummy of late
which adds spice to an already delicious competition.
Prediction:
Wright
3. Oklahoma – If Sooner fans weren’t happy with Rhett Bomar last
year, they’re going to loathe him this fall. Bomar got himself booted
from the program, leaving Oklahoma in a precarious situation behind
center. This from a school that appeared loaded at quarterback just a
few years ago. Paul Thompson was terrific in 2006, but he’s out of
eligibility, leaving the offense with a trio of kids that have two games
and two passes of experience between. On seniority alone, junior
Joey Halzle rates an edge over true freshman Keith Nichol and
redshirt freshman Sam Bradford, both of whom are more decorated
than the former junior-college transfer. One extra year as the backup
helps, however, Bradford and Nichol have vast upsides and are already
competing for the job this spring. Halzle should get the nod in
September, but will be real vulnerable if he stumbles and one of the
freshmen matures overnight.
Prediction: Halzle
2. Ohio State –
As if replacing the Heisman Trophy winner isn’t hard enough, the
Buckeyes must do so without a proven quarterback that’s been waiting in
the wings until after Troy Smith and Justin Zwick graduated. In all
likelihood, the Todd Boeckman era is about to begin in Columbus.
He’s a 6-5, system-savvy kid who’s a lot closer to Zwick than the
multi-dimensional Smith. Sophomore Rob Schoenhoft is another
power forward who, at 6-6 and 240 pounds, is an imposing figure with
enormous arm strength. The wild card is Antonio Henton, who’s
hamstrung by being only a redshirt freshman, but is the only candidate
capable of making plays outside the pocket and conjuring up images of
Smith.
Prediction: Boeckman
1. Notre Dame – Just how good is Charlie Weis as a developer
of young quarterbacks? We’ll have a much better idea in a couple of
years. Brady Quinn is off to the NFL, meaning one of four really green
and really gifted quarterbacks is going to see his Q rating skyrocket
later this summer. While extremely short on experience, the depth chart
will be jammed with former four and five-star blue-chip recruits. The
standard-bearer is true freshman Jimmy Clausen, last year’s
top-ranked high school quarterback who’s already on campus competing for
the job. Is he good enough to start right away? You bet. As a
sophomore, Evan Sharpley is long in the tooth, relatively
speaking. However, seniority alone won’t get it done in a deep field.
Redshirt freshmen Demetrius Jones and Zach Frazer would be
the future at most other schools. Jones is the most athletic
quarterback, making huge strides since arriving in South Bend two years
ago. Frazer is the longshot of the group. Sit back and enjoy because
this one is about to get real interesting.
Prediction: Jones
|