Picking the Starting Quarterback for All Pac-12 Schools

2012 will be an intriguing year for Pac-12 football. With USC off probation, superstars like Andrew Luck and LaMichael James gone to the NFL and four exciting new head coaches, it feels more wide open than ever.

The quarterback position is also a story at almost every school. There are proven stars at a few schools, but almost half the teams have QB competitions underway.

Who do I think will be the starting QB on each Pac-12 team? My answers might surprise you.

Colorado

Wait, this isn't Connor Wood, you're probably thinking. You would be correct—it's Colorado freshman QB Shane Dillon.

Sophomore Connor Wood is the conventional pick to replace Tyler Hansen for the Buffs. However, in a story I read on the University of Colorado's athletic department site, it was clear that neither head coach Jon Embree nor QB coach Rip (is that his real name?) Scherer were in love with Wood's performance during spring drills.

The Buffs spring camp was supposed to feature a competition between Texas transfer Wood and fellow sophomore Nick Hirschman. But Hirschman broke a bone in his right foot just days before the start of spring practice and missed every practice.

Dillon, a 2012 recruit, is on campus and will be there throughout the summer. The 6'6" freshman is the highest rated QB that Colorado has recruited since 2003.

This is shaping up to be a three-way competition come August. It sounds as if the coaching staff is very high on young Dillon—and I think he has a good chance to shine due to Wood's yawner spring and Hirschman's injury.

Of course, none of this matters because the Buffs have no one for the QB to throw to.

Utah

Although backup QB Adam Schulz was the architect of the winning touchdown drive at the Utes spring game, the starting job in the fall will belong to Jordan Wynn.

Jordan Wynn (does he own a hotel in Las Vegas?) is an excellent QB when he is healthy, and he appears to be 100 percent healthy now. He injured his left (non-throwing) shoulder in the Utes fourth game last season and was replaced by Jon Hays.

Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham is saying all the right things to keep his other QBs motivated, but the job is Wynn's unless something dramatic happens.

Arizona State

It is impossible for me to predict who the Sun Devils' starting QB will be.

New head coach Todd Graham is playing his cards very close to his vest. I didn't attend ASU's spring game, but it sounded as if there was no definitive winner among Mike Bercovici, Michael Eubank or Taylor Kelly.

It truly appears to be a three-way competition, and all three of these inexperienced players bring skills to the position. What makes it even more difficult to predict is that these three guys are also dealing with a new system.

I'm going with Bercovici because I like his name. If you have any better insight, I'm sure you will let me know.

Arizona

This one's easy.

Senior Matt Scott is the perfect fit for new head coach Rich Rodriguez's spread-option offense. Scott has only had five career starts, but he's looked great when he's played.

Scott also had an excellent Arizona spring game, leading the way with 315 yards in a 22-for-35 effort. That's a pretty good pass efficiency rating, and I think he will stay close to that even when there is a real opponent.

Scott came in for Nick Foles when he was injured in 2010, and he couldn't have played better. I think there is a good chance that after the 'Cats' opening game, fans in Tucson will be saying "Nick who?"

UCLA

The UCLA quarterback competition is, in my opinion, second in intrigue only to Oregon's.

Experienced veterans Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut may be pushed by redshirt freshman Brett Hundley. With a new head coach (Jim Mora), one has to believe that the QB position is wide open.

Prince has suffered through so many injuries that you would like to see him get a chance his senior year under a new head coach. He has given his all to UCLA, but will that be enough to reward him with the starting position?

Brehaut seems to be a better fit for Mora's spread-option offense. He also appears to throw the ball with a bit more zip than Prince.

But it's former five-star prospect and redshirt freshman Brett Hundley that intrigues me the most. There are very high expectations in Westwood surrounding this kid, and I admit to being excited about seeing him.

In a just and fair world, Prince gets the starting nod and shares time this season with Brehaut. Hundley's debut is in 2013.

But, we all know college football is just about the farthest thing from just and fair.

Brehaut starts and Hundley replaces him by game three. Prince sits on the bench and wonders where it all went wrong.

USC

The 2012 starting quarterback for the USC Trojans will be Cody Kessler.

Ha ha ha. Just kidding.

Unless you've been living among the Amish—and, perhaps, not even then—you know that Matt Barkley is the patron saint of USC's comeback to glory days.

The only thing for the other QBs on the squad to do is to fight like hell for the backup role, and watch and learn from the master.

California

This one's not quite as easy as predicting Matt Barkley will start for the Trojans, but almost.

Zach Maynard finished strong in 2011 for the Cal Bears, and he will probably pick up where he left off as the starting QB. He is blessed with good receivers and a good running back.

There is a great deal of excitement in Berkeley (as much as they get excited about football) around freshman Zach Kline, who was either the No. 3 or 4 ranked high school QB, depending on which service you like.

If Maynard should falter and Tedford is feeling the heat, you might see Kline mid-point in the season.

Stanford

Stanford head coach David Shaw has said that the quarterbacks in his stable could start for other teams. That's a fairly lofty statement when Shaw's two leading contenders, junior Brett Nottingham and senior Josh Nunes, have not started one college football game between them.

In fact, Nottingham and Nunes (that sounds like a law firm) have barely seen any meaningful game action. But it appears that the two formerly highly recruited QBs are the top two competitors to replace No. 1 NFL pick Andrew Luck when the 2012 season kicks off.

Shaw says the quarterback's job at Stanford is to "deal the cards." Both Nunes and Nottingham will be proficient at distributing the ball to the playmakers, and there doesn't seem to be much difference between them.

Pick 'em.

Oregon State

There is no QB controversy at Oregon State—Sean Mannion is the guy.

What's more, I think Mannion is going to be one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12 by late October. Yes, the Beavers have O line issues, but Mannion has a couple potentially terrific receivers, especially senior Markus Wheaton.

Mannion's ace in the hole is that virtually no one is paying any attention to him because of all the stories in the Pac-12 this year.

Ignore Sean Mannion at your peril. Pass it on.

Oregon

Looking at this photo, one would think that Bryan Bennett is on top of the world, and Marcus Mariota's dog just died.

After the Ducks' spring game, however, their facial expressions were reversed. Mariota was nothing short of dazzling, and Bennett did not play up to his potential in the game that offered the public's first look at both quarterbacks.

Now this is what I call a QB controversy.

Not to belittle David Shaw's faith in his two leading contenders, but Bennett and Mariota really could start for almost any other team in the country.

This is a tough one to predict, in part because Chip Kelly does not allow media to attend practices. So, all we have to go on is the one look we got—the spring game.

I think it's Marcus Mariota, and I think he will turn out to be one of the all-time Oregon greats.

Washington

No controversy in Seattle. Keith Price is the dude.

Price was probably the most upset person in the entire west when Matt Barkley decided to return to USC. If Barkley was playing on Sundays next fall instead of Saturdays, Price would be the glamor QB in the Pac-12.

Is he as good as his hype? Yes, I believe he is. His performance in the Alamo Bowl (he scored seven touchdowns—four throwing and three running) was one of the most spectacular QB jobs I've seen, and I've watched a lot of college football.

Price's supporting cast is suspicious, but he will have days that will dazzle.

Washington State

Finally, in the Palouse you have (probably) senior Jeff Tuel at QB.

I say "probably" because sophomore Connor Halliday is nipping at Tuel's heels.

Tuel has been injured frequently throughout his college career and some fans may have forgotten how good this guy is, but they remembered after watching him at the annual Crimson and Gray Day (spring game).

Tuel was 19-for-21, 285 yards and threw two touchdowns, including an 84-yard beauty to star receiver Marquess Wilson. He completed his first 15 passes.

Halliday appeared in four games in 2011 as a redshirt freshman and was effective. He suffered a lacerated liver late in the year. His injury carried over into spring drills when he took a hit in the first practice and hasn't played since, including in the spring game.

Halliday is talented and when he recovers we may see a competition in the fall.

But I believe it's Jeff Tuel-to-Marquess Wilson all year.

Get Your Tickets Now

We will miss wonderful Pac-12 quarterbacks like Andrew Luck, Darron Thomas, Brock Osweiler and Nick Foles.

But get your tickets now, folks, as there are some terrifically talented QBs coming this year who can't wait to show you their stuff.

Who do you think will blow past their potential? Who will surprise?