Most Important Spring Game QB Battles to Watch in 2016
It can be difficult to figure out what can actually be gleaned from spring games, thanks to programs' differing philosophies on how to conduct the scrimmages and rotate the players into the action.
But one thing is for sure: For programs in the middle of a starting quarterback battle, spring games will naturally command a lot of attention from fans and media members alike.
Spring games are the first times competing quarterbacks will get to go head-to-head, so to speak, in somewhat of a live game environment. These long position battles, usually taking place behind the scenes in closed practice settings, come to life on the field for the public to see.
With the spring game circuit starting to reach full speed this weekend and carrying into the next several Fridays and Saturdays, let's take a look at a dozen of the most important quarterback battles to watch in these scrimmages this spring. These selections were based on the closeness of the battles and the overall strength of the respective teams heading into the 2016 season.
The 12 battles are listed in the following slides in alphabetical order, and the quarterbacks for each battle are placed alphabetically by last name—not by where they currently sit in the competition.
Alabama
1 of 12
Blake Barnett vs. Cooper Bateman vs. David Cornwell vs. Jalen Hurts
For the third straight year, Alabama will enter its spring game looking for more clarity on its starting quarterback battle.
Under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, the Tide have made first-year starters under center work well, but that doesn't change the amount of intrigue at the position.
Cooper Bateman appears to have an early edge in the four-way battle for the No. 1 job. According to Sean Landry of the Anniston Star, the junior is receiving the most work with the first-team offense of any quarterback. That should come as no surprise, as the Utah native is the only one with game experience, as he famously started for the Tide in a loss to Ole Miss last season and was the backup to Jake Coker.
Blake Barnett is a fan favorite in the competition. The redshirt freshman was the No. 2-rated quarterback in the class of 2015 but redshirted last season. He arguably has the best skill set of any quarterback on the roster and has been hard at work in the offseason, training with George Whitfield and taking full advantage of a crack at the starting job.
The 6'5" David Cornwell is also a name to watch in the battle, as he was a strong contender for the starting job last season but faded in fall camp. Early enrollee Jalen Hurts is mixing it up with the Crimson Tide offense as well, although the dual-threat passer seems to be more of a candidate to redshirt in 2016 than a candidate to start.
All four arms will be on display at Alabama's spring game next month, which always draws a huge crowd and plenty of national attention for an April scrimmage. While it's not likely head coach Nick Saban will want to name a starter before the fall, this game could go a long way toward determining who tops the starting lineup when the Tide open the season against USC.
Auburn
2 of 12
John Franklin III vs. Jeremy Johnson vs. Sean White
Gus Malzahn had the worst offensive year of his college coaching career last season as Auburn slumped from preseason title contender to a team needing a Birmingham Bowl win to get above .500 on the year.
That led to a hard reset of the quarterback race, which features a JUCO playmaker and the Tigers' two starters from 2015.
John Franklin III didn't get the majority of the snaps at East Mississippi Community College last season, but that hasn't stopped the dual-threat quarterback from getting right into the thick of the race at Auburn. Teammates and coaches alike have raved about his incredible speed and similarities to Nick Marshall, a former JUCO, run-first quarterback who led Auburn to the national title game in his first year as a starter.
Franklin's biggest competition at this point is most likely Jeremy Johnson, the heavily hyped quarterback who stumbled out of the gates in 2015 and lost the starting job. He recovered in the second half of the season to lead Auburn to a road win over Texas A&M and helped the Tigers secure the bowl victory over Memphis with both his arm and his legs. With less pressure on him to be a star, Johnson could win the job again.
Sean White was more of a pocket passer for the Tigers last season. He started decently but finished with worse numbers than Johnson by season's end—four picks and just one touchdown. Injuries limited his effectiveness down the stretch, and a healthy showing with his passing at Auburn's A-Day Game would be a big boost in his favor.
If Malzahn elects to go back to the option-heavy offense that Marshall excelled at in 2013 and 2014, Franklin is the favorite. But Johnson and White both have valuable starting experience and will continue to make this a heated race.
Florida
3 of 12
Austin Appleby vs. Luke Del Rio vs. Feleipe Franks vs. Kyle Trask
Florida's 2015 turnaround under Jim McElwain netted the Gators a trip to the SEC Championship Game, but it hit a wall down the stretch when starting quarterback Will Grier received a lengthy suspension after failing an NCAA drug test. That's why nailing down a solid starting quarterback in Gainesville is paramount this offseason.
Luke Del Rio, formerly of Alabama and Oregon State, has settled down at Florida, where he was the early favorite to win the starting quarterback job. Del Rio transferred to Florida last year and spent an entire year learning the system, which gives him an advantage over the rest of the competition. Bleacher Report's Barrett Sallee called him a "natural fit" in McElwain's offense earlier this year.
But Del Rio got some additional competition in the offseason when Purdue quarterback Austin Appleby joined the Gators as a graduate transfer. Bigger and more of a runner than Del Rio, Appleby brings ample starting experience at the Power Five level to a wide-open competition.
Florida's two true freshmen in the race, Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask, are getting a chance to prove they could be the present instead of just the future of the Gators offense. Franks is 6'5" with an incredibly strong arm and good footwork but may need more polish before he's trusted as a starter at the SEC level. Trask is even taller than Franks and is an ideal dropback quarterback who flew under the radar in high school.
Del Rio and Appleby should continue to lead the pack heading into Florida's spring game, which will be a perfect time for coaches and fans alike to see any separation between the two veterans. Franks and Trask will most likely continue to provide pressure and a glimpse into Florida's future.
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Florida State
4 of 12
J.J. Cosentino vs. Deondre Francois vs. Malik Henry
Florida State could return every single starter from its offense for the 2016 season. But with quarterback Sean Maguire missing the entire spring with a fractured ankle, the door is open for a pair of freshmen or an experienced backup to take the reins for the Seminoles.
Redshirt freshman Deondre Francois received most of the first-team reps at quarterback in Florida State's first scrimmage of the spring and continues to be a leader there. He's received rave reviews for the throws he's made and the work ethic he's shown in spring ball, and Florida State's spring game in Orlando's Citrus Bowl could be the time where he takes over the No. 1 spot heading into the summer and fall months.
True freshman Malik Henry, another highly rated dual-threat quarterback, will continue to push for a starting job as he becomes acclimated to the college game. Henry enrolled early to compete for the starting job at Florida State and has made it clear in the past that he doesn't intend to redshirt his first season in Tallahassee.
J.J. Cosentino is the only one of the trio who has appeared in a college game so far, as he appeared in games against Syracuse, Chattanooga and Houston last season. He hasn't done anything in a game situation that has made him a favorite to win the job but has more experience in the offense and should be more comfortable than his younger competitors.
Florida State and its fans will be eager to see how the freshmen handle the spring game spotlight. If Francois continues to pull ahead with a strong performance, he could make it extremely difficult for Maguire to knock him off the pedestal when he returns to the practice field this fall.
Georgia
5 of 12
Jacob Eason vs. Greyson Lambert vs. Brice Ramsey
When healthy, Georgia running back Nick Chubb is one of the most dangerous playmakers in the entire country. The Bulldogs just need to give him a strong backfield partner this year at quarterback, and the new coaching staff is opening up the competition there.
Georgia fans already know what they have in the two experienced members of the competition—Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey. Lambert, a former transfer from Virginia, started 12 games for the Bulldogs last season with mixed results, tearing it up against certain opponents and struggling mightily against others. He's consistently been repping with the first-offense since the beginning of practices, according to Marc Weiszer of Dog Bytes.
Ramsey, Lambert's backup and eventual go-to punter last season, has been behind Lambert in practices with the second team. Last year, Ramsey had limited work in wins over UL-Monroe, Vanderbilt, Southern, Kentucky and Penn State but threw two interceptions in relief of Lambert in a four-touchdown loss to Alabama. He posted similar numbers as a backup in 2014.
Then there's Jacob Eason, the 5-star passer who enrolled early at Georgia and threw himself into the starting quarterback race. While he's been third in the pecking order so far, there's a lot to like about his game. He has a college-ready arm and has showcased a level of confidence in the pocket that goes beyond his years. Eason still has a lot of work to do in the spring and fall, though, in order to potentially pass Lambert and Ramsey.
How Georgia's all-around passing game looks in its spring game will be a crucial storyline in the SEC, as the Bulldogs could be adjusting to both a new coaching staff and a new No. 1 quarterback for the 2016 season. The winner of this job might be the difference-maker for a Georgia run to the SEC title game later this year.
Michigan
6 of 12
Shane Morris vs. John O'Korn vs. Wilton Speight
Jim Harbaugh is looking to work more of his magic with the offense at Michigan this season after Jake Rudock's largely successful season at the Wolverines' starting quarterback. The task of replacing Rudock will ultimately come down to a decision between three passers who have had opportunities to showcase their strengths with the starters on offense.
Shane Morris went down to the wire with Rudock last season for the starting job and later took a redshirt. He's headlining another quarterback battle in Ann Arbor, having some starting experience with the Wolverines in the 2013 and 2014 seasons. As a senior, he is the most tenured option Harbaugh has on the roster, and he opted to stay with Michigan instead of seeking a transfer late last year.
John O'Korn was perceived as the early favorite in the quarterback battle. He has more starting experience than anyone else in the battle, as he was the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year at Houston in 2013. O'Korn threw for 3,117 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with the Cougars before sitting behind Greg Ward Jr. and seeking a transfer.
But don't count out Wilton Speight, the backup who has emerged as a strong contender in the race. According to Dan Murphy of ESPN.com, Speight had the majority of the first-team reps for the Wolverines during an open practice at Detroit's Ford Field. Speight seems to be moving forward in the race as Michigan looks forward to this week's spring game.
This appears to be one of the most even quarterback battles for a contending Power Five team this spring, and the trio's performances in the spring game at Michigan Stadium could go a long way toward determining who gets the final nod from Harbaugh and the staff.
Michigan State
7 of 12
Messiah deWeaver vs. Brian Lewerke vs. Tyler O'Connor vs. Damion Terry
The race to replace longtime starting quarterback Connor Cook at Michigan State has an early leader, but the Spartans are planning to keep all their options open through spring ball.
The favorite has to be Tyler O'Connor; head coach Mark Dantonio even said as much in his press conference at the start of the Spartans' spring camp. O'Connor was Cook's backup for the last two seasons, and he famously stepped into a starting spot for the injured Cook ahead of Michigan State's matchup with Ohio State to determine the Big Ten East title. MSU can put its trust in O'Connor after its title-winning 2015 campaign.
Damion Terry is sharing co-starter duties this offseason with O'Connor, and the junior has the experience to be a valuable weapon in the Michigan State offense. Terry brings more of a running threat to the team, as he rotated with O'Connor in the win over Ohio State and had 21 carries on the season. If he doesn't win the starting job this offseason, there's a good chance MSU will still use him in some offensive capacity.
The freshmen pushing the veterans in the competition are Messiah deWeaver and Brian Lewerke. DeWeaver is an early enrollee who won state titles in high school and was an Elite 11 finalist last summer. Lewerke redshirted last season for the Spartans and has been able to grab some attention during his practice work so far in East Lansing.
When the Spartans hit the field for their spring game, look for O'Connor and Terry to push each other in a veteran-led competition that might not be settled until fall practices begin later this year.
Notre Dame
8 of 12
DeShone Kizer vs. Brandon Wimbush vs. Malik Zaire
Notre Dame has a high-profile three-way quarterback race at the moment between the player who started most of the 2015 season for the Irish, the player who was 2015's original starter and a talented backup with a ton of promise.
DeShone Kizer has the experience advantage over his fellow competitors, even though he originally started 2015 as the third-string quarterback in South Bend. Kizer came off the bench to replace the injured Zaire, who has only made three starts in his career, and led Notre Dame's offense to a 10-win season and an eighth-place finish in offensive S&P+ ratings by Football Outsiders.
But in last year's quarterback battle, Kizer finished behind Zaire, who was nearly perfect in starts against LSU in the 2014 Music City Bowl and the 2015 season opener against Texas. Zaire also brings a speedier threat in the option game than the bigger Kizer, and JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago noted how Zaire's leadership skills are a huge positive in this race.
Then there is Brandon Wimbush, who only appeared in a blowout over UMass and a win over Pittsburgh last season. The physical tools of the former 4-star recruit are quite impressive, from his big arm to his dangerous athleticism. And while he doesn't have starting experience at the college level, he's not completely brand-new to the system, either.
Notre Dame's spring scrimmage will be the first chance for the trio of quarterbacks to showcase their skills in something resembling a competitive game environment. All three have compelling cases for why they should be the No. 1 man for the Irish, making this one of the biggest position battles in the entire country.
Stanford
9 of 12
Ryan Burns vs. Keller Chryst
With Christian McCaffrey back for another potential Heisman campaign and the continued pedigree of excellent line play on the Farm, Stanford's offense has the chance to have another outstanding season as it pushes for a Pac-12 title defense. A lot of that success, though, will hinge on Kevin Hogan's replacement.
Stanford's two-horse race to replace four-year starter Hogan has an early favorite in Keller Chryst, a pro-style quarterback who carved out a role as the No. 2 passer on the roster last season. He appeared in only four games last season, completing just five of nine passes for 59 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. Still, his ability to move ahead of Burns last season is telling for this year's competition.
Burns has had more experience in Stanford's system as an older player but has only thrown one pass in his entire career—and that came in 2014. While he appears to have some catching up to do this spring, he's had more time inside the system and the large pro-style playbook that the Cardinal employ. That could swing momentum in his favor, especially considering he and Chryst are similar in size and style.
"Watching Kevin, they know what's paramount is running the offense," Stanford head coach David Shaw said, per Kevin Gemmell of ESPN.com. "It's making sure everyone is on the same page. Making sure we're getting to the right play. And to watch Kevin do that so well over the last few years, that's the most important thing for them to learn from."
The best bet right now is still Chryst, who moved ahead of Burns in a backup race last season behind Hogan. But Stanford will keep both options open for now in the hopes of finding the best all-around leader for an offense that surged in a huge way in 2015.
TCU
10 of 12
Kenny Hill vs. Foster Sawyer
TCU's uptempo, high-powered offense was a perfect fit for quarterback Trevone Boykin in each of the last two seasons, as the Horned Frogs won double-digit games in both years and competed for the Big 12 title. Now TCU has to move on from Boykin and enter a new era with either Kenny Hill or Foster Sawyer.
This is a classic battle between a transfer and a backup with more experience in the system. Hill became an overnight sensation at Texas A&M in the 2014 season, lighting up the first seven opponents of the season for the Aggies. But it all came crashing down in a 59-0 beatdown at Alabama, and Hill left College Station after not playing another snap for the rest of the campaign.
Hill had to sit out the 2015 season for TCU as Bram Kohlhausen and Sawyer filled in behind Boykin on the depth chart. Sawyer, who redshirted in 2014, is entering his third year with the Horned Frogs after playing in six games last year. He has deeper roots in TCU's offense, but his only extended playing time of his career was a three-interception affair in a rough start against Oklahoma.
Sawyer hasn't gotten a true chance to show what he can do with a full-strength TCU offense, while Hill has shown he can excel at the Power Five level when he's on his A-game.
TCU head coach Gary Patterson has not tipped his hand on the competition between Sawyer and Hill, and the Frogs' upcoming spring game will be a big mile-marker in the road to declaring who will take over for the electrifying Boykin. Both options have their own strengths and weaknesses, and those who declared Hill the surefire starter early might have to wait a little while longer.
Texas
11 of 12
Shane Buechele vs. Jerrod Heard vs. Tyrone Swoopes
Texas is installing a new offense this spring, but one of its longest-tenured players currently has the edge again for the starting quarterback job.
Senior Tyrone Swoopes, who started most of the 2014 season for the Longhorns and opened the 2015 season at the top spot, raced out to an early lead in the quarterback race again this spring. Swoopes spent most of the 2015 campaign behind Jerrod Heard as a power-rushing specialist but started in a season-ending win over banged-up Baylor when Heard went down with injury.
Heard, who completed 58 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and five picks as a freshman starter last season, has the breakaway speed that could be perfect in new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert's scheme. But after an up-and-down 2015 campaign and a recent shoulder injury—one that will keep him "likely out for a while," as Chip Brown of Scout reported—Heard is behind in this battle.
True freshman Shane Buechele is the wild card of this race. He's quite familiar with the type of offense Gilbert wants to run and would be a clean slate of sorts for Texas' recent quarterback woes. And while Gilbert spoke highly of Buechele's skill set earlier this week, he's still an early enrollee completely new to the college game.
It's unknown at this time whether Heard will be healthy enough to play in Texas' spring game, which could be the golden opportunity for Swoopes to strengthen his lead in the race. But keep an eye on Buechele and how he performs in front of the Texas faithful for the first time.
Texas A&M
12 of 12
Jake Hubenak vs. Trevor Knight
In an SEC filled with quarterback question marks, the situation at Texas A&M has to be one of the more intriguing over the last year. Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray are out, and former Oklahoma starter Trevor Knight is in a race to start with Jake Hubenak, who finished 2015 for the Aggies.
Knight transferred into College Station for one more shot at a starting job, something he lost to Baker Mayfield last season with the Sooners. Knight had his coming-out party in a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama in 2014 but threw 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in what was an underwhelming 2014 for Oklahoma. Still, he brings a rushing threat that could be a big-time advantage in his race with Hubenak.
"You have to eventually like Trevor Knight's chances of winning the starting job because he's a big, strong player who also was an accomplished runner at Oklahoma out of the zone-read," Jeff Tarpley of 247Sports wrote. "In addition, Knight has a strong arm and can make the downfield throws necessary in the offense but also the quick throws on all of the shorter routes."
Hubenak, on the other hand, is a more stable option as a pocket passer. He joined Texas A&M as a JUCO pickup last season and eventually started a close loss to Louisville in a bowl game after Allen and Murray left the program. Texas A&M's offensive talent already have some level of familiarity with Hubenak, and he stayed solid for the program during a time of quarterback turmoil.
The two Aggie quarterbacks are on equal footing in terms of an offensive coordinator, though, as Noel Mazzone is new to the program from UCLA. The battle is still raging between these two, and their contrasting styles should make for an interesting matchup when Texas A&M holds its spring game in early April.
Recruiting rankings are courtesy of 247Sports.
Justin Ferguson is a National College Football Analyst at Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JFergusonBR.
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