Georgia Football: Breaking Down the Bulldogs' QB Contenders for the 2015 Season

The Georgia Bulldogs will enter the 2015 season as one of the favorites to win the SEC East because of guys like Nick Chubb, Sony Michel, Lorenzo Carter and Leonard Floyd.

However, the one thing that could hold them back is the quarterback position because Hutson Mason will not return, and the Bulldogs will have to break in another new starter.

Brice Ramsey was the backup for Mason last season, and he was able to be productive in limited action. Faton Bauta was the third-string quarterback, and like Ramsey, he was solid in mop-up duty.

But then there’s Jacob Park, who redshirted last season. Park was a blue-chip recruit in 2014, and he has a good chance of being the No. 1 guy when it’s all said and done.

So the quarterback position will be something to watch during spring ball and fall camp. And because of that, here’s a breakdown of the Bulldogs' quarterback contenders for the 2015 season.

Brice Ramsey

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Ramsey was able to emerge as Mason’s backup as the 2014 season progressed. His most extensive playing time of the year was in the Belk Bowl, going 4-of-9 with 51 yards and one interception. However, he was able to lead the Bulldogs with a 37-14 win with some timely throws and good game management.

Ramsey has a stronger arm than Mason, and he has a very good delivery. He has the tools to be a great quarterback for the Bulldogs, but he needs to be more accurate and will need to be more aggressive when it comes to making plays downfield, which was something Mason was not able to do for various reasons.

Ramsey will come into spring ball as the default No. 1 quarterback. But because of the competition behind him, it’s not guaranteed he will be the starter by the fall.

Faton Bauta

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And speaking of the competition, Bauta looks to be the forgotten quarterback despite being the backup for Mason in 2013 when Aaron Murray went down late in the season.

Bauta is more of a zone-read quarterback who knows how to run with the football. In the limited action he saw in 2014, Bauta was 4-of-5 for 48 yards, and he also rushed for 16 yards on six carries with two touchdowns.

Because of his size (6'2", 222 lbs), Bauta will rely on his legs as much as his arm. He doesn’t necessarily fit the pro-style offense, but the way he plays could fit what the Bulldogs want to do this upcoming season, especially with running backs like Chubb and Michel. Having Bauta under center could give the Bulldogs another running threat, and that could be frustrating for opposing defenders.

If there is one quarterback who has the combination of a great arm as well as good mobility, then Bauta would be that guy.

Jacob Park

Credit: 247Sports

Park took a redshirt last year, and he will come into spring practice looking to be the starter as a redshirt freshman. Standing at 6’4’’ and 202 pounds, Park has the right size to be a pro-style quarterback. However, he has the best arm out of the three quarterbacks, and he might also have the best delivery.

The one thing he will need to work on is being more accurate because he takes risks, which has led to more mistakes than coaches would like.

But when it comes to talent and potential, Park is the best out of the three. Despite not having any game experience, he very well could be the starter on opening weekend.

The Schottenheimer Factor

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The one guy who will be evaluating the three quarterbacks (other than head coach Mark Richt) will be new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brian Schottenheimer. The former St. Louis Rams and New York Jets offensive coordinator does not have a lot of college coaching experience, but he does have experience playing in the SEC, as he was the backup for Danny Wuerffel in the mid-90s.

Schottenheimer has worked with NFL quarterbacks like Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Sam Bradford. So he has a good idea what it takes to be starter in a pro-style offense.

The son of legendary NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer has yet to get a good look at all three guys. But once he does, he will have a tough task of deciding who will be the leader of an offense that led the conference in points per game last season.