Taking Stock of Quarterback Competitions Around The Nation
By Kyle Kensing
Week 1 inches ever closer, which means decision time for coaches without a declared starting quarterback looms. Open competitions across the nation are starting to tighten.
Jeff Driskel and Jacoby Brissett both saw starts for Florida while senior John Brantley rehabbed injury. Each was thrown into the fire perhaps prematurely, and got little help from former offensive coordinator Charlie Weis’ playbook. A change in philosophy with Brent Pease should be a boost to whomever emerges as the starter. That’s been a mystery for months now, but a shoulder injury Driskel sustained may have determined the competition for head coach Will Muschamp.
On Monday, Miami head coach Al Golden’s depth chart was released with Stephen Morris listed on the first team. Morris saw considerable playing time in 2010, and got on the field in 2011 but his production in that time was less than impressive. Memphis transfer Ryan Williams challenged Morris throughout the spring and will be waiting in the wings should the Hurricane offense sputter.
How Jedd Fisch uses Morris is of interest. Morris was a decent ball carrier in 2010 but widely erratic passing. His completion efficiency last season improved, though he was used as a rusher much less frequently. Williams’ 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame offers a different look, though Golden did praise Williams’ ability to bootleg.
Another transfer quarterback appears to have the edge at his new home. Danny O’Brien was a Freshman All-American at Maryland in 2010, but struggled mightily after the change from offensive coordinator James Franklin to Gary Crowton. His ability to run Wisconsin’s offense piqued interest in the spring, though Matt Canada stressed O’Brien had no leg up on Joel Stave or Curt Phillips. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Badger beat writer Jeff Potrykus reported that the competition is heated, though BadgerOfHonor.com via Tom Mulhern is projecting O’Brien to get the nod sooner than later.
Rutgers has had a revolving door at quarterback each of the last two seasons. A standout as a freshman in 2009, Tom Savage was benched for Chas Dodd in 2010 and later transferred. Dodd struggled through the same offensive line issues that plagued the Scarlet Knights in 2010 last year, which presented opportunity for Gary Nova.
Nova’s numbers were hardly eye popping: he completed just 51.1 percent of his 227 pass attempts and was intercepted nine times his freshman campaign. Dodd had slightly better completion rates and touchdown-to-interception ratios, but is a slight 6-foot-1, and around 200 pounds. He took a lot of abuse the last two seasons: in 2010, Rutgers had the most porous offensive line in the nation and though improved in 2011, still allowed 30 sacks. The bigger Nova reportedly has the edge, says Star Ledger beat writer Tom Luicci.
RU’s three-quarterback rotation has spread over two seasons and change; Arizona State has had a three-man competition truncated into a few months. Since Brock Osweiler’s early departure for the NFL Draft, the new look Sun Devils have not had a clear replacement. Michael Eubank, Mike Bercovici and Taylor Kelly have all been neck-and-neck through spring ball and into A-State’s pre-season camp, but Monday head coach Todd Graham declared Kelly the leader to Arizona Republic reporter Doug Haller.
Fellow Pac-12 South member Utah lost Jordan Wynn to injury midway through the 2011 campaign, and reserve Jon Hays was…well, the starter. Hays’ production was underwhelming, though with stud running back John White sharing the backfield, the quarterback did not need to be prolific. Adding White and Wynn was seemingly a recipe to turn the Utes into a divisional contender, but not so fast: The Deseret News‘ Dirk Facer reports that Wynn’s return behind center is “not set in stone.”