LSU Football: Prep Standout Gunner Kiel Can Compete for Starting Job Right Away

Just when you thought that things really couldn't get any better for LSU's football program...well, they did.

Coach Les Miles received word yesterday that prep standout quarterback Gunner Kiel, who is considered by many to be the top high school quarterback in the nation this year, has committed to play football at LSU.

Kiel has an interesting story behind him. The same can be said for the guy who he will likely be competing against for LSU's starting quarterback gig in 2012, Zach Mettenberger.

Kiel, who played his prep football in Columbus, IN, originally committed to Indiana University, which shocked the college football world at the time. He soon decommitted and opened his options up until he made his decision yesterday to play in Baton Rouge.

Mettenberger was also a highly-touted player in high school who committed to Georgia and spent his freshman season in Athens before being dismissed from the team. He spent a year in junior college and then transferred to LSU, where he served as Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee's backup this season.

It seems like Mettenberger should be the favored starter heading into the 2012 season, but keep in mind that Les Miles has no issue with playing freshmen. 

Jarrett Lee was the starter for this LSU team during his freshman season and Miles also gave Jordan Jefferson plenty of playing time in his freshman campaign as well.

From the initial looks of it, Kiel is supposed to be better than both Lee and Jefferson during his prep career—although all three of them were elite recruits.

Don't be surprised to see this be an ongoing battle and perhaps even see these two quarterbacks split time like Jefferson and Lee have done in the past.

As good as the duo of Jefferson and Lee have been at LSU, its 100 percent possible that this duo of Kiel and Mettenberger could be as good, if not better.

Watch out, SEC, LSU has more talent at the quarterback position heading your way for the next four years.