Predicting Every Starter for Top Remaining QB Battles Following Spring Practice
One particularly smart unknown football sage once said that “if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks.” It’s incredibly accurate. For a college coach, playing two quarterbacks on a regular basis is just an invitation for controversy, second-guessing and discord.
Any good quarterback competition worth its salt must end with a single signal-caller emerging as the leader. And this spring, like many before it, has some intriguing QB battles. Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Texas, Southern California and Notre Dame are just a few of the programs that are trying to sort out a leader for their offense before the 2016 season begins.
Here’s a crack at predicting the winner for every high-profile quarterback competition. Disagree with our take? Let us know in the comments.
Alabama
1 of 13
For the third consecutive season, Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin have a quarterback battle on their hands. One-year starters Blake Sims and Jake Coker excelled in the role, with Sims leading Alabama to an SEC title and College Football Playoff appearance, and Coker leading the charge to a fourth national title under Saban. With Coker graduated, however, the Crimson Tide are going through the exercise again this spring.
Fourth-year junior Cooper Bateman competed with sophomore David Cornwell, redshirt freshman Blake Barnett and early-enrollee freshman Jalen Hurts in the spring.
Saban told ESPN.com’s Chris Low (h/t ESPN.com's Alex Scarborough) near spring’s end that if the Tide started the season now, Bateman would be the starter.
"If we had to play today, it would probably be Cooper Bateman, but we don't have to play today," Saban said.
He fits the mold of Sims and Coker, who were the most experienced passers on the roster when they won the role.
Bateman started one game last fall, throwing for 86 yards and an interception against Ole Miss before being replaced by Coker. But if Saban and Kiffin follow their pattern, he’ll be the guy when Alabama takes on Southern California in September.
Auburn
2 of 13
2015 looms as a crucial season for Gus Malzahn and Auburn. Following a national runner-up finish in 2013, the Tigers have regressed over the past two seasons, falling to 8-5 in 2014 and 7-6 last fall. There are places where Birmingham Bowl bids are acceptable, but Auburn isn't one of them.
To return to SEC West glory, the Tigers need a competent leader for Malzahn’s hurry-up, no-huddle system. That didn’t happen last fall. Jeremy Johnson flopped as the starter, throwing for 1,054 yards with 10 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Sean White was no better, throwing for 1,166 yards with one touchdown against four interceptions.
Both competed this spring against junior college transfer John Franklin III. He is the closest thing to Nick Marshall, who excelled running the read option and flashed excellent mobility as Auburn’s starter. None of the three quarterbacks really separated this spring, but with more time in the offense, expect Franklin to do just that and take the offensive reins in 2016.
BYU
3 of 13
If it wasn’t for bad luck, Taysom Hill would have no luck at all. Hill has flashed some serious dual-threat skills as BYU’s quarterback, but injuries have kept him from reaching his true potential. In 2014, Hill suffered a torn ACL five games into the Cougars’ season, which ended his year. Last fall, he suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his foot in the season opener at Nebraska, ending his season before it had much of a chance to get going.
With Hill sidelined, freshman Tanner Mangum kept the offense rolling. He threw a Hail Mary to beat Nebraska and followed it up with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Juergens with 45 seconds left to stun Boise State. Mangum finished with 3,377 yards and 23 touchdowns against 10 interceptions.
Hill received a sixth-year eligibility waiver from the NCAA and faced off with Mangum this spring. Neither separated, and Hill was still somewhat limited by his foot. However, he has proved to be a winner for the Cougars. Expect the experienced Hill to take over by September.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Florida
4 of 13
Luke Del Rio might have finally found a home in Gainesville. The son of NFL coach Jack Del Rio began his college career as an Alabama walk-on before transferring to Oregon State. He spent a season as Sean Mannion’s backup and then transferred to Florida.
With Will Grier’s transfer following an NCAA suspension for a positive performance-enhancing drug test and Treon Harris’ suspension for a violation of the university conduct policy, Jim McElwain needs a quarterback.
This spring, Del Rio competed with Purdue transfer Austin Appleby, as well as freshmen Feleipe Franks and Kyle Trask. He stood out in Florida’s spring game, completing 10 of 11 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns and separating himself from the pack. Del Rio has taken a big lead, and it’s hard to see anyone catching him this fall.
Florida State
5 of 13
Life without Jameis Winston was mixed for Florida State in 2015. The Seminoles slipped to 10-3 and fell from the top of the ACC following three consecutive championships. Quarterback play was an issue, with neither Sean Maguire nor Notre Dame transfer Everett Golson excelling in the role. Maguire is back after throwing for 1,520 yards with 11 touchdowns against six interceptions.
He missed spring practice while recovering from surgery for a broken ankle, which gave Jimbo Fisher a chance to see what freshmen Deondre Francois and Malik Henry could do.
Henry, who has mobility and a great arm, completed 15 of 22 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns, and he showed the ability to extend plays and create on the move. While Maguire won’t lose the job because of injury, Henry will push him and eventually overtake him this fall.
Georgia
6 of 13
Georgia is getting a new start under new coach Kirby Smart, and after 2015, that’s not such a bad thing. The Bulldogs failed to reach the SEC title game for the third consecutive season, ending Mark Richt’s excellent tenure.
Quarterback Greyson Lambert had his moments, throwing for 1,959 yards with 12 touchdowns against two interceptions, but he wasn’t a real difference-maker for the offense. He was benched for the Florida game in favor of Faton Bauta, who flopped and later transferred to Colorado State.
Lambert battled for the job this spring with junior Brice Ramsey and incoming freshman Jacob Eason. The latter was the nation’s No. 5 overall recruit, per 247Sports, and excelled in his first public viewing at Georgia’s spring game. Seth Emerson of Dawg Nation said Eason exceeded the hype surrounding him.
He has a pocket-passer build at 6’5”, 208 pounds, and completed 19 of 29 passes for 244 yards and a touchdown, displaying a strong touch on deep balls.
Eason has the biggest ceiling of all three quarterbacks. While Georgia could go through some ups and downs starting a true freshman, it’s the natural choice for the long term. Eason will be the man in Sanford Stadium in 2016.
Michigan
7 of 13
Michigan had an excellent first season under Jim Harbaugh, finishing 10-3 following a Citrus Bowl blowout of Florida. The Wolverines should be even better in 2016, but to fulfill their potential, they need a starting quarterback following Jake Rudock’s graduation.
Another transfer, former Houston player John O’Korn, was expected to take control of the quarterback battle. He had experience as the American Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2013. Meanwhile, Shane Morris also has tenure in Michigan’s program.
Instead, sophomore Wilton Speight emerged as the leader this spring. He does have some experience under fire. Speight completed just nine of 25 passes for 73 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, but he did lead a game-winning drive at Minnesota after Rudock was knocked out of the game. He was the best quarterback in Michigan’s spring game, completing five of six passes for 42 yards and adding a touchdown through the air and one on the ground.
Mark Snyder of the Detroit Free Press wrote that Speight is confident in his abilities.
“If I was worried about (competition), I promise you I wouldn’t have come here with all the hype around Shane with him being the chosen one and all of that stuff,” he said. "I told the coaching staff, if you offer me, I’ll come, because I’m not nervous about competition."
Assuming he continues his progression this summer, Speight will be a guy Harbaugh can trust in the Big House this fall.
Michigan State
8 of 13
Michigan State made a huge breakthrough in 2015, winning the Big Ten title and making the program’s first College Football Playoff appearance. One of the most important pieces of that run? Quarterback Connor Cook. He was a steely leader for the Spartans offense, throwing for 3,131 yards with 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
Cook graduated, leaving a big conundrum for Mark Dantonio’s staff. Who’ll be under center as Michigan State attempts to defend its Big Ten title? Look to his backup, Tyler O’Connor. He got some key experience last fall, filling in for an injured Cook at Ohio State and completing 13 of 24 passes for 133 yards with two touchdowns and an interception on the season.
He is a fifth-year senior and had the best spring of any MSU quarterback, throwing for 138 yards and a touchdown in the spring game. He played with poise and leadership and made smart choices in the pocket. O’Connor is the leader in the clubhouse to replace Cook as Michigan State’s starter.
Notre Dame
9 of 13
At some point this summer, Brian Kelly should try to bend Urban Meyer’s ear. The Notre Dame coach is going through the exact same conundrum that Meyer experienced with Ohio State last fall. Meyer had a starter returning from injury (J.T. Barrett) who was facing off against a talented backup who excelled while he sat (Cardale Jones). Meyer eventually chose Jones but finished the season with Barrett.
This fall, Kelly must pick between a returning starter in Malik Zaire and backup DeShone Kizer, who led the Fighting Irish to a 10-win season and Fiesta Bowl berth while Zaire recovered from a broken ankle.
Kizer threw for 2,884 yards with 21 touchdowns against 10 interceptions and showed mobility while rushing for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns.
This spring, both quarterbacks had their moments, but neither really rose above the other in the competition, leaving the battle tied heading into summer. If Kelly talks with Meyer, he’d likely hear why Barrett should have been the guy all along. Expect both quarterbacks to play this season, but Zaire hasn’t done anything to lose the job and should begin as the starter.
Penn State
10 of 13
After two seasons at Penn State, James Franklin needs a fresh start. He has yet to translate the smashing success he had at Vanderbilt to Happy Valley, going 14-12 with a pair of 7-6 seasons. Quarterback Christian Hackenberg regressed under offensive coordinator John Donovan. After throwing for 20 touchdowns against 10 interceptions as a freshman, he combined to throw 28 touchdowns with 21 picks over the next two seasons.
Hackenberg is gone to the NFL as a second-round pick of the New York Jets, and Penn State fired Donovan following the season. Franklin replaced him with Fordham coach Joe Moorhead, who’ll use a fast-paced spread offense.
Moorhead will pick between sophomore Trace McSorley and redshirt freshman Tommy Stevens. McSorley had some experience last fall, completing 20 of 40 passes for 185 yards and two scores as a freshman. He looked comfortable in Penn State’s spring game, completing 23 of 27 passes for 281 yards and four touchdowns.
Franklin has not announced a starter, but it would be a surprise if it weren’t McSorley.
Southern California
11 of 13
Southern California could be a College Football Playoff dark horse in Clay Helton’s first full season as head coach. But the Trojans need a quarterback. Cody Kessler was quietly excellent as the starter, throwing for 3,536 yards with 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 2015. But he’s in Cleveland now as a third-round pick of the Browns, which means Helton must replace him.
The obvious choice is Max Browne. He learned under Kessler and is ready to take on a larger role as a junior. In 2015, he completed eight of 12 passes for 113 yards in limited action.
Mobile freshman Sam Darnold pushed him in spring practice, but expect Helton to go with the experienced hand and start Browne in a huge season opener against Alabama.
Texas
12 of 13
Charlie Strong enters his third season in Austin under pressure. The Longhorns are just 11-14 in two seasons under him (including a 5-7 season last fall), which is unacceptable for a rabid, moneyed fanbase.
Texas will run a new fast-paced Air Raid offense after plucking offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert from Tulsa. The Longhorns have a pair of experienced quarterbacks in senior Tyrone Swoopes and sophomore Jerrod Heard, but a newcomer stole the show this spring.
Early-enrollee freshman Shane Buechele was impressive in the spring game, completing 22 of 41 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Heard was sidelined with a shoulder injury, while Swoopes struggled, completing four of 16 passes for 71 yards and two interceptions.
Strong needs to win now, and the best way to do it will be with Buechele under center.
Virginia Tech
13 of 13New is the order of the day in Blacksburg, Virginia. Justin Fuente excelled at Memphis with a fast-paced offense, and it got the attention of Virginia Tech, which hired him after Frank Beamer, the longest-tenured coach in the FBS, retired.
Fuente did great things with NFL first-round draft pick Paxton Lynch, and he hopes to do the same with Michael Brewer’s successor.
Junior Brenden Motley got experience last fall while Brewer missed six games with a broken collarbone. He threw for 1,155 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, but the Hokies went 3-3 in that span.
Mobile junior college passer Jerod Evans was Fuente’s first recruit after arriving at Tech. He had a solid day in the Hokies’ spring game, throwing for 104 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Motley completed four of 10 passes for 19 yards and was sacked three times.
Evans fits the mold that Fuente needs for an uptempo scheme. He’ll be the man in Blacksburg for the first season of a new era.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
