Updated Recruiting Profiles for Star QBs in Waiting

Each year star quarterbacks are signed by some of the nation’s best programs with hopes that the next Heisman contender has landed in their program.

Heading into 2013, this is a look at where the 10 top prospects that took a backseat on arrival stand in their respective programs.

As time goes by, it becomes clear that most rising stars aren’t as good as expected, or they require a little additional grooming before they make an impact on the field.

These 10 players fit that mold. 

Cody Kessler, USC Trojans

2011 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (via 247Sports Composite); No. 142 overall recruit

Time as Backup: Two years (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Cody Kessler has taken full advantage of this spring in L.A. as the lone quarterback with experience for the first half of the practice sessions. Max Wittek fell to an injury early (h/t L.A. Times), giving Kessler some much needed extra reps. 

Wittek is now back in the fold after a spring break departure from practice to rest the injured knee, but Kessler still had a lot of impressive days for the Trojans.

This will be a battle that is decided over the summer. Kessler is in position 1b at the moment.

Living up to the Hype? Not yet. Kessler has to earn the starting job to live up to the hype. If he doesn’t, then he will be another recruiting bust at the quarterback position. 

Max Wittek, USC Trojans

2011 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (via 247Sports Composite); No. 87 overall recruit

Time as Backup: Two years (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Max Wittek entered the spring as the incumbent starter for the Trojans after finishing 2012 as the starter after Matt Barkley was injured. Before spring was rolling Wittek was out with a knee injury (h/t L.A. Times), and the keys to the Trojan offense were handed to Cody Kessler.

Now that the spring break period is over for USC and the team is back in the swing of spring football, Wittek has returned. He will be back in the fold for starter with Kessler and freshman Max Browne, but the decision is likely to be a summer decision for the Trojan staff.

This has been a bad spring for Wittek, thanks to the nagging knee injury.

Living up to the Hype? So far yes. He looked good at times in games last year, but he also had some struggles. If molded over the offseason, then he could be a very good quarterback for the Trojans.

Whether he can hold off Kessler or not is still up in the air. 

Jameis Winston, Florida State Seminoles

2012 Ranking: Consensus 5-star (via 247Sports Composite); No. 15 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Jameis Winston is taking on a lot this spring for the Seminoles. As a two-sport star, Winston is playing baseball and football at the same time this spring.

It is a four-player race to replace departed starter E.J. Manuel, but Winston is expected to be the frontrunner. Head coach Jimbo Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel, "He's not going to miss anything with football. He'll be at every practice, every meeting. If one of our practices overlaps their game, he'll miss their game."

Fisher went on to say this about the young signal-caller:

"

I come over here the other day [for fourth-quarter conditioning drills] and he blew this thing away. He flew around here like a wild man. He's in great shape. He's probably up there watching film by himself an hour or two every day. Every day, he's been in there studying and going. He's been right involved in the middle of everything.

The guys say he's out there in 7-on-7. He'll go to baseball practice and then go to 7-on-7.

"

Obviously the work ethic is apparent, and a ringing endorsement like that one from the head coach spells starter.

Living up to the Hype? Win the starting job this spring, and yes. Winston has the talent to be a Heisman contender once he hits the field as the starting quarterback. Watch him make waves this fall as the new star for the Seminoles. 

Christian LeMay, Georgia Bulldogs

2011 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 71 overall recruit

Time as Backup: Two years (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Christian LeMay went into spring with a lot of pressure on him to make a move in the quarterback race.

With the return of Aaron Murray in 2013, the job isn’t open, but that is a good thing for LeMay. He has struggled to live up to the hype of his top billing as a recruit, but there is still time for him to break the hump.

This spring he hasn’t been great—in the first scrimmage he was 1-of-11 (h/t Ledger-Enquirer)—so the road still looks to be a long one as he searches for relevance in a deep position group.

Living up to the Hype? Crash and burn. LeMay may end up being the biggest disappointment of the 2011 class. 

Jacoby Brissett, N.C. State Wolfpack

2011 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 116 overall recruit

Time as Backup: Two years

2013 Spring Breakdown: Jacoby Brissett had battled Jeff Driskel for the starting job at Florida, but he failed to secure the job in 2012. He announced that he would transfer to N.C. State (h/t College Football Talk) for 2013 with NCAA rules forcing him to sit for a season.

This spring he will in sweats learning the Wolfpack offense.

Living up to the Hype? So far he has looked like a flop, but there is time for that to change. A solid turnaround at N.C. State would be huge, and he has two years to make waves for the NFL.

The jury is still out on Brissett. 

Kiehl Frazier, Auburn Tigers

2012 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 51 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year

2013 Spring Breakdown: Entering the spring Kiehl Frazier is a huge mystery. He is one of only two scholarship quarterbacks battling for a starting position at Auburn this spring, but his past is a dark cloud that won’t go away.

In 2011, he went 62-of-116 for 753 yards, two touchdowns and eight interceptions (via CFBStats.com).

That was just two years after being named the USA Today Offensive Player of the Year. At this point he has one more shot to win the starting job for Auburn. The good news is Gus Malzahn has returned to Auburn and should be able to help develop Frazier better than the Chizik staff.

Living up to the Hype? Kiehl Frazier’s name brings a headache to most Auburn fans at the moment, and unless he has a huge turnaround in 2013, he is a major disappointment. 

Cyler Miles, Washington Huskies

2012 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 105 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Heading into the spring Cyler Miles is in the running to pass incumbent Keith Price for the starting quarterback position.

Price has the experience, but Miles is unbelievably talented. At times over the past few seasons, Price has cost the Huskies games with his sporadic play, but there is no clarity that will come with starting an inexperienced freshman.

Nonetheless, Miles will get a solid shot at earning the starting nod this spring.

Living up to the Hype? Not yet. Miles has the chance to become a star for Washington—whether he beats out Price this season or simply waits his turn. 

Zach Kline, California Bears

2012 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 47 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year (redshirt)

2013 Spring Breakdown: Zach Kline is taking on the role of starter for the California Bears this spring. He hasn’t been officially named starter, but head coach Sonny Dykes believes he is a step ahead of the rest of the pack so far this spring.

Dykes told the media (h/t Mercury News), "Looks a little bit like Zach Kline is starting to get a little bit more settled in. I've seen him kind of make a move here over the last two practices."

When asked about the offense, Kline said he is “feeling like this is my offense now. I'm feeling like this is my team now. I'm comfortable in it. Coming off being a redshirt freshman last year and being new to everything, you just feel like you're part of the team.”

Every sign is pointing to spring finishing with Klein taking over the starting job for the Bears.

Living up to the Hype? So far, so good. After sitting out a season and taking a redshirt, it looks like Klein is ready to make this Cal team his before 2013 kicks off. 

Gunner Kiel, Team TBD

2012 Ranking: Consensus 5-star (247Sports Composite); No. 27 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year

2013 Spring Breakdown: Gunner Kiel was expected to challenge for the starting job at Notre Dame this spring, but he has decided to transfer (h/t USA Today) away from South Bend in search of a new home and more playing time.

His destination has yet to be determined.

Living up to the Hype? Outside shot at survival. Kiel is now moving on with his career after not earning the starting nod at Notre Dame, but at this point he may end as a flop.

There is hope in renewal—when he lands at a new school—but right now he looks to be running from competition, not running to playing time. 

Matt Davis, Texas A&M Aggies

2012 Ranking: Consensus 4-star (247Sports Composite); No. 122 overall recruit

Time as Backup: One year

2013 Spring Breakdown: Heading into the spring, Matt Davis is a backup quarterback for the Aggies and is hoping to earn a look for the future.

He will sit behind incumbent starter and Heisman winner Johnny Manziel at least for one more season. This spring will be big for him to show that he could become a star for the Aggies once Manziel departs.

Living up to the Hype?: He hasn’t yet, but the future looks bright. Kevin Sumlin has shown that quarterbacks thrive in his system, and Davis should be the next in line that becomes a top signal-caller for Texas A&M.

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