Why Gunner Kiel's Father is Crazy to Think Tommy Rees Will Start Over His Son

We're going to write this article as if Gunner Kiel is still a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. After all, with two recent decommitments, he could have decided to play for another school by the time you're done reading.

Kiel is arguably the best quarterback prospect in this year's class. He throws the football with pinpoint accuracy, he has underrated mobility, can throw on the run, make all of the throws on the football field and has a very quick release. The only really complaint many have with him is his arm strength, but that will come with time. 

He has all of the tools to be a very successful quarterback and with experience at the college level, he will likely give the Irish the best shot at getting back to the promised land. I'm of course talking about a double-digit winning season and a BCS bowl berth—possibly even a BCS National Championship with a couple of bounces going in Notre Dame's favor.

He will be given the keys to this team sooner rather than later, but Kiel's father may disagree.

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'Reality is, right now, he's just another player on the Notre Dame roster,' Kip Kiel (Gunner Kiel's father) said. 'He knows that. As a matter of fact, I've told many people this – I think Tommy Rees is a pretty good player. I think Tommy Rees is going to start next year, and why wouldn't he? He's done a great job.'

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What Kip is saying is correct. Gunner can't just walk on the football field and act like he's a veteran player that's earned his stripes. He hasn't. He hasn't done anything yet.

However, let's be honest for a second.

We all know Kiel is more talented than Tommy Rees is and we all know who will see a lot of playing time in the next few years regardless of what Rees accomplishes.

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'Tommy has a great record there as a starter. People lose sight of that. That's life as a quarterback at Notre Dame, that's the way it is. Gunner, he's got a lot to learn. He's got two brothers that have went through this and they've told him it's going to be tough. The speed of the game is different. He got an idea of that in the (U.S. Army All-American game, and that's just playing against kids his own age.'

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Kiel does have a lot to learn, but Rees has played in 22 games and still hasn't learned much. He still constantly forces the ball into double and triple-coverage. He's thrown 22 interceptions to 32 touchdown passes, and those interception numbers would be much higher if it weren't for lousy hands by the defenders. He has shown leadership and he does complete a solid 64 percent of his passes, but the turnovers are the same thing that put Dayne Crist on the bench.

Head coach Brian Kelly has been haunted by turnovers during his first two years at Notre Dame as it is. He can't possibly go through another year of giving the ball to the other team 20-plus times.

Who's to say that either one of these quarterbacks will be the starter heading into next season? The Irish do have another talented quarterback in Everett Golson, who Notre Dame fans can't wait to see play. He is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and tons of athletic ability. He has the goods to be something special. He just needs the opportunity to prove himself.

Rees has had his shot and he didn't exactly impress anybody. Now it's time for the talented prospects sitting on the sideline to show and prove.

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