Grading the First-Time College Football Quarterbacks of 2012

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

For any college quarterback, there's no game like the first time you run onto the field.

Some of these new starters felt a rush of satisfaction as they led their teams to victory in Week 1. Others felt the agonizing sting of defeat that will hopefully push them to do greater things as they adjust to being the No. 1 guy on offense.

So, how did your favorite quarterback do his first time on the field? Read on.

 

Note: I will be adding the other first-time QBs as games go final.

Taysom Hill, BYU

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While true freshman Taysom Hill didn't start against Washington State, he did get the nod for his first play of his collegiate career on 4th-and-1 from the Washington State 18.

Hill was brought out in Wildcat formation and he could have run for the first down.

Instead, he found TE Kaneakua Friel all alone in the end zone for a touchdown.

Can't do better than that on your first play.

Grade: A

Nick Sherry, UNLV

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UNLV may have taken Minnesota to triple overtime, but redshirt freshman Nick Sherry didn't have a quality start.

Sherry completed only 45.7 percent of his passes and threw for just 116 yards and one touchdown, coupled with three interceptions and two sacks.

Yikes.

Grade: D

Taylor Kelly, Arizona State

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Taylor Kelly and Arizona State just torched Norther Arizona. Kelly completed 15-of-17 passes and threw for 247 yards and a touchdown.

Granted, this was against an FCS team, but a solid performance from the sophomore.

Grade: A

Logan Bushnell, Idaho

Taken from Govandals.com

I don't think Logan Bushnell's first start could have gone much worse.

Bushnell completed a dismal 41.7 percent of his passes, throwing for only 123 yards, no touchdowns and an interception.

And all of this was against FCS Eastern Washington. The Vandals lost this one, 20-3.

Two words: Epic fail.

Grade: F

Brett Hundley, UCLA

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Brett Hundley got the Jim Mora era at UCLA off to a good start. He went 21-of-28 for 202 yards and two touchdowns, plus 68 yards rushing and another touchdown.

Only an interception keeps him from a solid A.

Grade: A-

Chandler Whitmer, UConn

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Chandler Whitmer better be glad that his first game was against UMass. While he didn't have a terrible game, finishing with 219 yards on 15-of-25 passing, he also had two interceptions to no touchdowns.

That's not going to fly against most teams.

Grade: C

Mike Wegzyn, UMass

Michael Ivins-US Presswire

It's going to be a long year for Mike Wegzyn and UMass if Thursday was any indication.

Wegzyn completed only nine of his 22 pass attempts, threw a pick and was sacked twice in the shutout against UConn.

Ouch.

Grade: F

David Fisher, Kent State

Taken from Kentstatesports.com

David Fisher didn't start, but in his first time on the field he went 3-of-3 for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Even against lowly Towson, that deserves a gold star.

Grade: A

Dalton Williams, Akron

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Dalton Williams had his first start on Thursday at the FBS level. Williams used to play for Stephen F. Austin, but now he's with the Zips as a senior.

And his FBS debut wasn't too shabby. Williams went 30-of-50, good for 245 yards and two touchdowns.

His interception and three sacks are a bit of a drag, though.

Grade: B

Josh Nunes, Stanford

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Josh Nunes isn't Andrew Luck, but he didn't need to be to beat San Jose State.

Nunes did complete 61.5 percent of his passes, scored a touchdown and failed to throw any interceptions, but he only had 125 yards. 

His longest pass of the night? A mere 14 yards.

Grade: B-

Joe Southwick, Boise State

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Boy, will Boise State miss Kellen Moore.

Joe Southwick's first start against Michigan State wasn't one Broncos fans will want to remember. He went 15-of-31 for 169 yards and no touchdowns with an interception thrown in there, too.

Granted, all of this came against one of the best defenses in college football. Still, this isn't what we've been used to seeing coming out of Boise.

Grade: C-

Andrew Maxwell, Michigan State

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The good: Andrew Maxwell went 22-of-38 and gained 248 yards through the air.

The bad: Maxwell didn't score any touchdowns.

The ugly: Maxwell threw three interceptions against the Broncos.

Grade: C

Everett Golson, Notre Dame

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Everett Golson's first start wasn't bad at all. The Irish didn't turn to him all that much, as they tore Navy up on the ground, but Golson still went 12-of-18 for 144 yards and a touchdown.

He also had an interception, but all in all, a decent start to Golson's career.

Grade: B

Alex Zordich, Buffalo

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Alex Zordich had a pretty good day considering his first game came against a Top Ten SEC team at their place.

In fact, Zordich and Buffalo made the Bulldogs sweat a bit, as his lone touchdown pass to Alex Neutz put the Bulls within one point in the first quarter.

That type of production proved too difficult to sustain, but 14-of-24 and 148 yards with no interceptions isn't bad in one of the toughest places to play in college football.

Grade: B-

Connor Dietz, Air Force

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Connor Dietz ran Air Force's triple-option offense well. He was efficient when he needed to pass, going 8-of-11 for 142 yards while adding 74 yards and a rushing touchdown.

Those are the kind of numbers the Falcons look for.

Grade: B+

Perry Hills, Maryland

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Riddle me this: How do you manage to throw three interceptions when you're playing an FCS team like William and Mary?

It's going to be another long year for Maryland if this doesn't change. The Terrapins were fortunate to get that 7-6 victory.

Imagine what would have happened had Maryland started against an FBS team.

Grade: D-

Chis Campbell, Southern Miss

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When you're a first-time starter, Nebraska really isn't the first team you want to face.

Campbell only went 6-of-12 for 69 yards and a touchdown. 

That's not going to get it done against most teams, much less the famous Blackshirt defense in Lincoln.

Grade: C+

Jordan Lynch, NIU

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Northern Illinois came so close to upsetting Iowa, and Jordan Lynch both helped and hurt his team.

His arm wasn't that impressive, as he only went 6-of-16 for 54 yards, but he did rush for 119 yards and a touchdown.

He also fumbled the ball that set up an Iowa field goal.

Not bad, but not enough to get the W.

Grade: B

Bo Wallace, Ole Miss

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Bo Wallace destroyed his competition by throwing 20-of-24 for 268 yards and two touchdowns to just one interception.

Too bad his competition was Central Arkansas. Still, this has to be a positive sign for Ole Miss after struggling mightily last season.

Grade: A-

Wes Lunt, Oklahoma State

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Wes Lunt didn't stay in the game very long, but he was a perfect 11-of-11 for 129 yards when he was in.

No, he didn't score any touchdowns himself, but that was only because the running backs made it look all too easy against poor Savannah State. 

Indeed, there was no shortage of scoring, as the Cowboys scored five touchdowns in the first quarter and would go on to win by the ridiculous score of 84-0.

Grade: A

J.W. Walsh, Oklahoma State

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

Lunt wasn't the only Oklahoma State QB to have a great first game.

J.W. Walsh also went 13-of-21, good for 149 yards and two touchdowns. His interception shows why he's a backup at this point, but another great performance for the Cowboys against a horribly outmatched team nonetheless.

Grade: B+

Kiehl Frazer, Auburn

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Kiehl Frazier worked very hard to keep Auburn in the game with Clemson, but he just wasn't able to do enough to win his first start.

Frazier did not have a great completion percentage, going only 11-of-27, but he did have 194 yards and a touchdown. Frazier also threw a pick to the Clemson defense.

We saw flashes of potential, but Frazier has a ways to go yet.

Grade: B-

Zach Mettenberger, LSU

Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

There's a lot of pressure on Zach Mettenberger to preform as the LSU Tigers' new quarterback, and he did OK against North Texas. 

On the plus side, Mettenberger did complete 19-of-26 pass attempts and threw for 192 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw an interception against the Mean Green.

Not great, but not terrible, either.

Grade: B

Marcus Mariota, Oregon

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Marcus Mariota was the closest thing to perfect as any QB was last night, first time QB or not.

Mariota completed 18 of his 22 pass attempts. That's 80 percent. 

That's just unheard of.

Mariota finished the day with 200 yards passing and three touchdowns. By the way, Mariota was pulled from the game in the second quarter.

Opponents of Oregon: Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Grade: A+

Nick Florence, Baylor

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How do you help people move on from Robert Griffin III?

Going 21 for 30 for 341 yards and four touchdowns is an excellent start. Granted, this was against SMU, but things couldn't have gone much better for Nick Florence on opening day.

Grade: A