Winners and Losers of Saturday's College Spring Football Games
If you’re hungry for football, Saturday was your kind of day.
Across the nation, high-profile programs wrapped up springtime with their annual spring games, which are part evaluation, part exhibition and a dash of fun. Some coaches play them more straight-laced, but you never know when you’re going to see a trick play or a former player come out of nowhere for a fun touchdown.
It’s part of spring’s charm.
Multiple programs with national names took the field Saturday, including Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, Notre Dame, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State and Penn State. Some quarterback competitions received clarity, while others will stretch into preseason practice.
Here’s a look at the winners and losers from Saturday’s spring football games.
Loser: Alabama Quarterback Situation
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Alabama entered spring with a crowded five-quarterback field competing to replace Blake Sims as the Crimson Tide starter. And following the A-Day game, there was slight separation, but perhaps it was not as much as coach Nick Saban or offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin would have liked.
Senior Jake Coker led the way, completing 14 of 28 passes for 183 yards with a touchdown, but he also threw a costly pick-six to defensive back Maurice Smith. Freshman David Cornwell was next, completing 12 of 24 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions.
Overall, the Tide’s quarterbacks combined to throw six interceptions, which left Saban less than pleased.
“Now we know what we’ve got to deal with,” Saban told the SEC Network’s Shannon Spake on the game telecast.
“We’ve turned the ball over way too much all spring long. One of the big emphases is for the defense to get the ball, the ball, the ball and for the offense to take care of the ball. So we’ve got to do a better job of that. I think the quarterbacks will learn from those experiences and we’ll get better because of it.”
Saban later mentioned that “Jake played pretty well,” but added that the divided nature of A-Day makes it difficult to make any surface evaluations. It’s fair to assume that Coker is the leader leaving spring, but suggesting he has the job locked up is absurd.
Winner: Having Fun with Spring Games
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Some coaches take spring far too seriously, making their play-calling as vanilla as possible and trying to avoid anything that can be taken and analyzed by rival coaches. They make the spring game less a fun day for fans and more an exercise to be trudged through.
So let’s give some praise to coaches who inject some levity into their contests and give us some fun moments to enjoy. At Notre Dame, Brian Kelly ended the first half by calling a throwback pass to big left tackle George Stanley, who took the toss for a nice gain.
At Alabama, notoriously serious Nick Saban did the same thing, calling a throwback pass for left tackle and large human Cameron Robinson.
At Penn State, James Franklin allowed Big Ten studio host Mike Hall to serve as a referee as part of an upcoming feature, which led to some amusing moments as Hall learned on the job.
At Mississippi State, former tailback Anthony Dixon came off the sideline in street clothes to catch a 59-yard touchdown pass. It was the kind of moment that gave everyone smiles and livened up what can be, at times, a boring exercise.
Winner: Auburn QB Jeremy Johnson
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Auburn lost quarterback Nick Marshall (who led the Tigers to the 2013 BCS national title game), but there shouldn’t be much of a drop-off under center on the Plains this fall. That’s largely due to the presence of junior quarterback Jeremy Johnson, who showed what he could do at the Tigers’ A-Day game.
In one half of play, Johnson completed 14 of 22 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He showed clear separation from fellow quarterback competitor Sean White, who completed 15 of 19 passes for 109 yards. At 6’5”, 230 pounds, he has drawn comparisons to former Auburn Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, and Saturday shows why.
He threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to a covered D’haquille Williams and a 43-yard strike to Myron Burton for his second touchdown. Johnson showed the ability to check down or throw deep when he had to. He’ll be the Tigers’ starter Sept. 5 against Louisville, without question, and has excellent potential.
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Winner: Ohio State QB Cardale Jones
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We knew going into Ohio State’s spring game that there would be no real news in the Buckeyes’ ongoing quarterback situation, which will stretch into fall. Junior Cardale Jones was the only healthy quarterback on the roster.
Two-time Big Ten MVP Braxton Miller is rehabbing from shoulder surgery that forced him to redshirt last season, and J.T. Barrett, who excelled in Miller’s stead, is recovering from a broken ankle suffered in the regular-season finale.
Saturday was Jones’ stage, and he made the most of it. He was not perfect, completing 19 of 42 passes for 304 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. But he had some eye-popping moments. He threw touchdown passes of 37 and 58 yards to Corey Smith, and he tossed a 74-yard pass in a halftime “skills competition” with Barrett and former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.
ESPNCleveland.com’s Bruce Hooley argues that Jones’ unique skill set makes him the clear leader for the job, even though coach Urban Meyer told Lisa Byington of the Big Ten Network on the game telecast that choosing between the quarterbacks is going to be a “terrible thing.”
Still, it’s clear that Jones excelled with his moment in the spotlight. Now, it's about seeing how he handles competition.
Winner: Ohio State Fans
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It’s no surprise that football matters at Ohio State. The Buckeyes enjoyed a return to glory in 2014, overcoming an early loss to Virginia Tech to go undefeated the rest of the way and win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Saturday was the first chance for the Buckeye fanbase to connect with its heroes in something approximating game action since January, and the scarlet-and-gray-clad masses didn’t disappoint. They packed Ohio Stadium with a massive crowd announced at 99,391, according to the school, setting a new national record for spring-game attendance.
The most impressive factor in that huge number? Ohio State charged $5 per ticket, a rarity among spring games. Buckeye fans paid up, despite knowing there’d be no clarity in the three-way quarterback battle between Jones, Barrett and Miller. Barrett and Miller were not active while rehabbing ankle and shoulder injuries, respectively.
Take a bow, Ohio State fans. You earned that spring-game record with clear passion.
Winner: Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
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When Dak Prescott returned to Mississippi State for his senior season, it was a huge victory for coach Dan Mullen. The dynamic quarterback was a key factor in the Bulldogs’ breakthrough 2014 season, finishing with 4,479 yards of total offense and 42 total touchdowns in MSU’s 10-3 season.
But there were questions about what exactly he came back to. The Bulldogs return only eight starters from 2014 and must replace starting tailback Josh Robinson (a 1,200-yard rusher), top linebacker Benardrick McKinney and three offensive linemen.
It’s tough to draw conclusions from the spring game, but Prescott looked very sharp in a divided environment. He completed 20 of 29 passes for 231 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, taking three “sacks” while wearing a green non-contact jersey. He showed excellent chemistry with junior wide receiver De’Runnya Wilson, who is the Bulldogs’ leading returning receiver.
MSU didn’t answer questions about its lead tailback, as Saturday was pass-heavy, but Prescott showed excellent ability in a situation that can be tough for quarterbacks to thrive in. He’ll be a huge building block for Mullen this fall.
Winner: Notre Dame WR/RB C.J. Prosise
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Notre Dame entered spring with a settled running game. The Fighting Irish returned their leading rusher in Tarean Folston, who had 889 yards and six touchdowns, and their No. 2 rusher in Greg Bryant, who had 289 yards and three scores in 2014.
But one player who has made a real impact in the backfield is senior receiver C.J. Prosise. Prosise is a multi-talented athlete who excelled in 2014, catching 29 passes for 516 yards and two touchdowns, including a 78-yard score. He also had 10 carries for 126 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown.
Following Saturday’s spring game, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly acknowledged that Prosise, who has big-play ability, could fit in as the top tailback or wide receiver in the Irish's attack, per Bleacher Report's Mike Monaco.
No matter where Prosise ultimately settles, it’s clear the veteran will have a major impact on the offense in 2015.
Loser: Those Expecting Resolution in LSU's Quarterback Battle
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Those expecting separation in LSU’s quarterback battle Saturday left sorely disappointed. Last fall, perhaps the biggest issue in the Tigers’ 8-5 finish was signal-caller inconsistency. Neither Anthony Jennings nor Brandon Harris really stood out, as the two combined for 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. Jennings, who started 12 games, completed only 48.9 percent of his passes.
This spring, both have been competing for the starting role, and both looked solid Saturday in LSU’s spring game. Jennings completed 13 of 20 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns, while Harris completed 11 of 17 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns.
With a talented receiving corps led by Malachi Dupre and a backfield featuring Heisman Trophy candidate Leonard Fournette, solid play from the quarterbacks has been the missing link in Baton Rouge. If Les Miles feels he can trust either Jennings or Harris, it will give LSU’s SEC West hopes a gigantic boost.
Loser: Those Expecting Clarity from Notre Dame's Quarterbacks
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Notre Dame entered spring with a quarterback quandary, and the Fighting Irish will leave spring with the same issue. Late last season, Malik Zaire found his way into the limelight after Brian Kelly had finally seen enough of Everett Golson’s turnover-prone antics.
Zaire started the Music City Bowl against LSU, but both quarterbacks played. The same occurred Saturday in Notre Dame’s spring game. Zaire completed eight of 14 passes for 137 yards and two scores, including a 68-yard touchdown pass to Will Fuller, while Golson completed seven of 15 passes for 83 yards and an interception.
When asked about the pair's performance by NBC Sports Network’s Carolyn Manno during the network’s telecast, Kelly responded, “It was exactly what we were looking for from both of them. Both of them can play very well and help us win football games.”
One potential twist remains before fall. Golson has his degree and could transfer elsewhere under the graduate transfer rule, which would give Zaire the clear spotlight. But it’s unclear whether he’ll exercise such an option.
Winner: Texas QB Tyrone Swoopes
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Last fall, Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes took over the position after concussions forced David Ash to give up football due to concussions. And the new starter's numbers were less than impressive. Swoopes passed for 2,409 yards and 13 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, and he faced a spring challenge from redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard.
But following Texas’ spring game, Swoopes appears to have withstood the challenge, at least for now. Texas coach Charlie Strong told reporters, including ESPN.com’s Max Olson, that “Ty is still the No. 1 guy at the moment.” However, that wasn’t exactly a ringing endorsement, as Strong added that “it’s going to be fun going into the summer with those guys battling it out.”
With Texas opening the season at Notre Dame Sept. 5, it makes sense that Strong would want a more experienced hand running the offense. But if Swoopes struggles, it sounds as if he won’t have many chances to work through his issues.
Loser: Penn State's Offense
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Last fall, Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg displayed one of the most dramatic regressions in college football. Following a freshman season that saw him throw for 2,955 yards with 20 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, he threw 12 touchdowns against 15 interceptions with 2,977 yards.
It wasn’t all Hackenberg’s fault: Penn State’s offensive line was brutal. Opponents sacked Hackenberg 45 times after sacking him just 21 times as a freshman. With a year of experience under its belt, you’d figure the Nittany Lions offense would be better this spring.
That wasn’t necessarily the case Saturday. Penn State combined to score just 24 points in its spring game, and Hackenberg was “sacked” without contact multiple times. That has to be a concern for coach James Franklin, who needs the offense to improve for his team take a step forward from 2014’s 7-6 record.
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