Gunner Kiel to LSU: What are the Odds He'll Start at QB for Tigers in 2012?

The LSU Tigers received a late Christmas present with the commitment of five-star recruit Gunner Kiel. He may have been a late gift but the Tigers will gladly take him.

Kiel is considered by many to be the top quarterback prospect in the country. He has everything you look for in a quarterback from the accuracy to the leadership on and off the field. He can make every throw there is to make. He has a great football IQ and a great feel for the game as well.

Really, the only negative about him is that he doesn't have great arm strength but that will come with time.

Now that the Tigers have the great quarterback, the question is whether he can start as a true freshman?

The Tigers are currently using a two quarterback system with Jarrett Lee and Jordan Jefferson, but both of them are seniors and won't be here next year. As a result, that opens the door for somebody like Kiel to step in and become the starter.

That being said, he will have to compete with Zach Mettenberger, who is a sophomore this season but has serious talent. He has the arm strength to make any throw on the field and great size at 6'5" and 220 pounds. He was a top recruit but got into trouble at Georgia involving a woman and sexual battery charges.

Mettenberger was kicked off the team and played one season at Butler Community College before transferring to LSU.

Despite the past issues with Mettenberger, he does have the talent to become the starter for the Tigers next season. However, maturity issues may continue to hold him back.

You have to believe that Kiel chose the Tigers over schools like Notre Dame and Vanderbilt because he believed he had a great shot to start from day one. No five-star recruit wants to ride the bench at any point in their career.

Kiel has as good of a chance as anyone to start next season, but he's going to have to work for it.

If worse comes to worst, the Tigers could continue to run a two quarterback system. It hasn't failed them yet this season.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]