Grading New College Football Starting QBs' Week 1 Performances
College football’s 2016 season kicked into high gear this weekend with a slate of exciting games across the nation. There were thrilling upsets from the likes of Houston, Wisconsin, Western Michigan and South Alabama. Fans marveled at Alabama’s dominance and Clemson’s narrow victory over Auburn. It was a fitting way to welcome college football back into our lives.
One of the most exciting parts for many fans was getting some closure, or at least some clarity, on quarterback situations around the country, as programs unveiled the winners of quarterback battles.
While some situations will drag on, we now have some concrete information about starters. We took a look at 23 of the biggest quarterback situations and graded the new starters’ Week 1 performances.
Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.
Alabama QB Blake Barnett
1 of 23
All summer long, speculation bubbled over Alabama’s quarterback situation. Would Nick Saban and offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin go with an experienced hand like Cooper Bateman to replace Jake Coker (as they did when Coker replaced Blake Sims in 2015), or would they push for a younger player like redshirt freshman Blake Barnett or true freshman Jalen Hurts?
We got the answer Saturday night, and it was a sea change in the Crimson Tide’s philosophy. Barnett got the start, but Hurts wound up being the real story. Barnett was efficient in the No. 1 Tide’s 52-6 rout of Southern California, completing five of six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. But Hurts replaced him in the second series and made things happen, too.
He completed six of 11 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, adding 32 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Barnett didn’t return to the game until late in the third quarter, and it’s unclear who will start against Western Kentucky.
"I made a decision for this game that whatever we did at quarterback was for now," Saban told reporters, per AL.com's Matt Zenitz. "Did you ever make a for now decision? So we made a decision today for now. That's the only decision we made. So I'm not speculating on what we're going to do in the future."
That said, Hurts clearly has the momentum for now.
Grade: B-
Arizona State QB Manny Wilkins
2 of 23
Arizona State is reloading on offense in 2016. Following a 6-7 season, the Sun Devils returned just four offensive starters and will miss the steady hand of former starting quarterback Mike Bercovici. Sophomore dual-threat Manny Wilkins won a four-way battle for the starting job, and while FCS foe Northern Arizona isn’t Pac-12 caliber, Wilkins has reason to be excited following a 44-13 win.
He completed 20 of 27 passes for 180 yards with no touchdowns and an interception and was also ASU’s leading rusher with 89 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Wilkins will need to be more productive with Texas Tech and Cal ahead on the schedule in September, but he didn’t do much to beat himself or ASU Saturday, and that’s a positive.
Grade: B
Arkansas QB Austin Allen
3 of 23
Arkansas had great success with Brandon Allen as its quarterback, leading a balanced, efficient offense while throwing for 3,440 yards with 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions last fall. So why not try a younger version?
Allen’s younger brother Austin won the role and made his starting debut against Louisiana Tech Saturday. There were as many positives as there were negatives.
Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 191 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He was hurried at times behind an offensive line that struggled, giving up four sacks. But he also came up big when he needed to, helping Arkansas avoid an upset by leading a 13-play, 67-yard fourth-quarter touchdown drive that was capped with a four-yard touchdown toss to Jeremy Sprinkle.
That gave the Razorbacks a 21-20 lead that they held onto for a narrow victory.
Grade: B-
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Boston College QB Patrick Towles
4 of 23
Patrick Towles and Boston College both needed a fresh start. Towles lost his starting role to Drew Barker at Kentucky, and the Eagles had one of the nation’s worst offenses a year ago, averaging 17.2 points per game—No. 121 nationally. With new offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler on board, BC was a natural destination for the graduate transfer, and he won the job by beating out sophomore Darius Wade.
The opener, however, looked like more of the same for both sides. Boston College traveled to Dublin and suffered a frustrating 17-14 loss to Georgia Tech after the Yellow Jackets scored a late touchdown.
Towles was far from spectacular, completing 11 of 17 passes for 137 yards and an interception. The Eagles actually outgained Tech 313-238, but BC’s offense will need much more to consistently win games and help Towles keep the job for the entire season.
Grade: C-
Cal QB Davis Webb
5 of 23
Davis Webb nearly wound up at Colorado after deciding to leave Texas Tech as a graduate transfer. Webb, who excelled as a freshman, sought opportunity after realizing he wasn’t going to beat out Patrick Mahomes for the starting role. He found it at Cal, which lost No. 1 overall NFL draft pick Jared Goff following a strong eight-win 2015 season.
So far, it looks like the perfect fit. Webb is well-versed in the Air Raid offense that Sonny Dykes runs, and he showed it in Cal’s opener against Hawaii halfway across the world in Sydney on Aug. 26.
With a college football-starved nation watching, he shredded Hawaii’s defense to the tune of 441 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-31 victory. The Bears’ schedule figures to get much tougher with San Diego State, Texas and Arizona State up next, but thus far, Webb appears to have made the right choice.
Grade: A-
Duke QB Daniel Jones
6 of 23
Duke found itself in a difficult situation entering September. The Blue Devils hoped to have senior quarterback Thomas Sirk leading their offense. Sirk had recovered well from a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in February, but re-aggravated the injury in August, ending his season before it began.
Coach David Cutcliffe turned to freshman Daniel Jones, and he played like a veteran in the opener against North Carolina Central. Jones completed 10 of 15 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns and added a 21-yard rushing score, leading Duke to a 49-0 halftime lead en route to a 49-6 win.
We’ll know a lot more about Jones and Duke in the next three weeks, when they take on Wake Forest, Northwestern and Notre Dame, but Cutcliffe surely rested at least a little easier Saturday night.
Grade: B+
Florida QB Luke Del Rio
7 of 23
Luke Del Rio is, to put it mildly, well-traveled. The son of NFL coach Jack Del Rio, Luke began his career as a walk-on at Alabama and then transferred to Oregon State before winding up at Florida. He might have finally found a home in The Swamp, however.
Del Rio beat out Purdue transfer Austin Appleby for the starting quarterback role, and the Gators hope he can rejuvenate an offense that struggled throughout the second half of 2015.
His first start was solid if not spectacular. Facing a UMass team that went 3-9 last fall, the Gators allowed the Minutemen to stay in the game until the fourth quarter before pulling away for a 24-7 win. Del Rio didn’t do anything to hurt himself, completing 29 of 44 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns.
Tougher tests await, but Del Rio set out a decent foundation Saturday night.
Grade: B
Michigan QB Wilton Speight
8 of 23
Expectations are high for Michigan in Jim Harbaugh’s second season, and with good reason. Harbaugh and the Wolverines showed great promise in his 10-3 debut, and with a loaded roster, they’re a College Football Playoff contender. The biggest hole is at quarterback, where Jake Rudock provided steady play as a graduate transfer from Iowa.
Rudock’s backup, Wilton Speight; Houston transfer John O’Korn; and Shane Morris spent spring and summer competing for the job, and Harbaugh was tight-lipped about the race. Speight, who led a late comeback win over Minnesota in 2015, was installed as the starter when the Wolverines faced off against Hawaii.
He did nothing to lose the job against the hapless Rainbow Warriors. Despite throwing an interception on Michigan’s first possession, Speight settled down and completed 10 of 13 passes for 145 yards and three touchdowns in a 63-3 rout. All three quarterbacks played, but it’s clear that Speight is the man under center going forward.
Grade: B
Michigan State QB Tyler O'Connor
9 of 23
Tyler O’Connor has an unenviable job at Michigan State. The fifth-year senior gets an opportunity to start for a returning College Football Playoff team, but he must replace one of the program’s all-time best quarterbacks in Connor Cook. O’Connor does have some experience, as he led the Spartans to a 17-14 upset at Ohio State while Cook sat with a shoulder injury.
He was the clear choice to start, but his first night as “the man” was somewhat mixed. Michigan State didn’t look impressive, letting Furman hang around into the fourth quarter before finishing off a 28-13 win. O’Connor completed 13 of 18 passes for 190 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. He didn’t do anything to beat himself but wasn’t a true standout.
We’ll get a better feel for his abilities when the Spartans visit Notre Dame.
Grade: B-
Mississippi State QB Nick Fitzgerald
10 of 23
We always knew that life after Dak Prescott was going to be difficult in Starkville. You don’t just replace a talent like Prescott, who made things happen with his feet and his arm and led Mississippi State to its first No. 1 ranking two years ago. After all, he’s already the Dallas Cowboys’ starter (at least while Tony Romo recovers from a back injury).
But Saturday’s opener against South Alabama showed just how tough it’s going to be for head coach Dan Mullen and the Bulldogs. Prescott’s backup, Nick Fitzgerald, won the starting role, but he didn’t make much of an impression. Fitzgerald went 0-for-3 on his first two drives and was then pulled for Damian Williams. He didn’t attempt a pass the rest of the way.
The Bulldogs suffered a stunning defeat when Westin Graves’ 28-yard field goal clanged off the upright with nine seconds left, sealing a 21-20 loss.
Williams completed 20 of 28 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions. He also led MSU with 93 rushing yards on 12 carries. Mullen told reporters, including Logan Lowery of the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, that the quarterback competition will continue, but Fitzgerald didn’t make much of an impact.
Grade: F
NC State QB Ryan Finley
11 of 23
Head coach Dave Doeren has taken NC State to two consecutive bowl games, but he faces a tough task in making the Wolfpack a factor in the ACC Atlantic with a far more difficult 2016 schedule. He’ll have to do it without now-graduated dual-threat quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Ryan Finley, who followed offensive coordinator Eliah Drinkwitz from Boise State as a graduate transfer, battled with sophomore Jalan McClendon all spring and summer for the job. Finley won the start against FCS foe William & Mary and looked far better than McClendon.
McClendon threw an interception on his initial series and didn’t return to the game until the outcome was decided in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Finley completed 17 of 21 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns, performing with great efficiency. This quarterback battle isn’t fully decided, but Finley showed enough to have the clear upper hand moving forward.
Grade: B+
North Carolina QB Mitch Trubisky
12 of 23
When North Carolina announced Mitch Trubisky as the successor to Marquise Williams at quarterback, it was expected to be a very smooth transition. After all, the redshirt junior pushed Williams for the starting role two years ago and completed 40 of 47 passes as a backup in 2015.
One game in, we learned that transition might have a few bumps. While Georgia has a solid defense, Trubisky’s starting debut was uneven at best. He completed 24 of 40 passes for 156 yards with no touchdowns. The Bulldogs rallied from a 24-14 deficit for a 33-24 win, scoring the game’s final 19 points.
An ill-advised screen pass in his own end zone led to a safety and further fueled the rally. Trubisky must improve his efficiency and decision-making if the Tar Heels hope to challenge for another ACC Coastal Division title.
Grade: C-
Oregon QB Dakota Prukop
13 of 23
For a second consecutive season, Oregon has turned to an FCS graduate transfer to helm its offense. The Ducks found success with Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams last fall, and initial returns on Montana State transfer Dakota Prukop are very positive.
Prukop won the starting role and excelled in a 53-28 season-opening rout of FCS foe UC Davis. Prukop completed 21 of 30 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns, including a 55-yard scoring strike to Darren Carrington II.
He also had 11 carries for 36 yards and a touchdown on the ground. We’ll know more about Prukop and the Ducks with games against Virginia and Nebraska ahead, but this was a solid start.
Grade: B+
Penn State QB Trace McSorley
14 of 23
After 14 wins in his first two seasons at Penn State, James Franklin explored a new offensive direction this year. Much-hyped quarterback Christian Hackenberg left following his junior season, and Franklin hired Fordham head coach Joe Moorhead as his new offensive coordinator, installing a hurry-up spread system.
Trace McSorley won the role, and he had a promising debut against Kent State. Although McSorley could improve his deep-ball touch, he completed 16 of 31 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-13 victory. The competition level will improve this week against Pitt, but this is reason for optimism.
Grade: B-
Southern California QB Max Browne
15 of 23
Southern California didn’t have a lot of holes on offense when Clay Helton began his first full season as head coach, but quarterback was one of them. Cody Kessler was one of the nation’s most underrated signal-callers, but his graduation created an opportunity for a younger quarterback.
Junior Max Browne and freshman Sam Darnold competed all spring and summer for the job, and Browne won the role. His debut was less than auspicious. No. 1 Alabama ripped the No. 20 Trojans 52-6, the program’s worst opening-game loss since 1896 and its worst overall loss in 50 years. Browne was ineffective, completing 14 of 29 passes for 101 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.
With trips to Stanford and Utah up next, following a home date with Utah State, Browne must pick up his performance, and quickly.
Grade: D
Stanford QB Ryan Burns
16 of 23
Following an excellent 2015 season, Stanford is pushing for big things in 2016. The Cardinal have won three of the last four Pac-12 championships, and they return the Heisman Trophy runner-up in junior tailback Christian McCaffery, who set the NCAA single-season all-purpose yardage record last fall.
The graduation of underrated quarterback Kevin Hogan was a big loss, with junior Ryan Burns and sophomore Keller Chryst competing all spring and summer to replace him. Burns surged past Chryst in August to win the job and had an interesting opener against Kansas State.
Stanford was in control throughout and won, 26-13. Burns tightened his grip on the role with an efficient evening. He completed 14 of 18 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown, while McCaffrey did the heavy lifting, carrying 22 times for 126 yards and two touchdowns. It was a nice start for the junior, who’ll have tougher challenges with Top 25 teams Southern California, UCLA and Washington up next.
Grade: B
TCU QB Kenny Hill
17 of 23
Two years ago, Kenny Hill made an unforgettable debut as Texas A&M’s starting quarterback. Hill threw for 511 yards, setting an A&M single-game record in a 52-28 rout of South Carolina. But by year’s end, he lost his starting role and transferred to TCU.
He won the competition to replace Trevone Boykin and run the Horned Frogs’ potent offense, resurfacing in a TCU uniform Saturday night against FCS foe South Dakota State. It was another game to remember.
While defensive struggles probably kept him throwing longer than normal, Hill put up huge numbers, completing 33 of 49 passes for 439 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 45 yards and three rushing touchdowns in a 59-41 win.
Hill will have bigger challenges (starting this week against Arkansas), but this was an impressive start.
Grade: A-
Texas QB Shane Buechele
18 of 23
Head coach Charlie Strong entered 2016 with just 11 wins in his first two seasons at Texas. But he didn’t have a quarterback like Shane Buechele before. The true freshman made a big impression in new offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert’s Air Raid system, as Sunday’s wild 50-47 double-overtime win over No. 10 Notre Dame showed.
Buechele got the start and excelled, completing 16 of 26 passes for 280 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, including a 72-yard scoring strike to John Burt that opened the second half. He looked poised and ready for the moment. Former starter Tyrone Swoopes had a role as a rusher, making 13 carries for 53 yards and three touchdowns.
But this is Buechele’s offense now, and rightfully so. It’ll be fun to see where he takes this system in the next few years.
Grade: A
Texas A&M QB Trevor Knight
19 of 23
Kevin Sumlin needed a quarterback. Trevor Knight needed a chance to start. It was a natural marriage. Knight had flashes of success as a starter at Oklahoma but was supplanted by Baker Mayfield. He had no chance of getting his job back after Mayfield led the Sooners to the College Football Playoff, so his arrival at Texas A&M as a graduate transfer was a perfect ending for both sides.
His debut on Saturday was very solid. Facing No. 16 UCLA in College Station, Knight threw 42 times, completing 22 for 239 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He also added two rushing touchdowns and helped the Aggies hold on despite blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead for a 31-24 overtime win.
Knight provides stability at a position that has severely lacked it and should get better as he develops chemistry with a talented receiver corps. This was a good first effort.
Grade: B
Utah QB Troy Williams
20 of 23
Utah is one of the nation’s most underrated programs. The Utes are coming off a 10-3 campaign but didn’t start the season in the Top 25. That could change soon if Troy Williams keeps this up. Williams began his career at Washington but wound up at Utah following a junior college stopover.
He replaced Travis Wilson, who graduated after setting a Utah record for career starts by a quarterback and finishing second in career wins. The opener against FCS foe Southern Utah was a solid start. Utah didn’t exactly blow the Thunderbirds away in a 24-0 win, but Williams was very good, completing 20 of 35 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns. He did nothing to loosen his grip on the role.
Grade: B
Virginia Tech QB Jerod Evans
21 of 23
When he took over for Frank Beamer at Virginia Tech, Justin Fuente made quarterback an immediate priority. His first commitment was JUCO transfer Jerod Evans, who he was recruiting while at Memphis.
Evans is a talented dual-threat passer who is a good fit in Fuente’s uptempo scheme. He battled Brenden Motley—who started played in 10 games for the Hokies in 2015—through preseason practice and won the starting role.
In the opener against Liberty, Evans showed why Fuente coveted him. He overcame some early jitters and completed 20 of 32 passes for 221 yards and four touchdowns and served as Tech’s leading rusher, carrying five times for 46 yards, including a 37-yard gainer. Motley completed five of nine passes for 31 yards in relief.
It’s clear that Evans will be the starter for much tougher challenges, including next week’s Battle at Bristol against Tennessee.
Grade: B+
Wisconsin QB Bart Houston
22 of 23
Bart Houston waited patiently for his shot as Wisconsin’s starting quarterback. The fifth-year senior sat behind Joel Stave (now on the Minnesota Vikings practice squad), winning the starting role this fall. His prize? Facing off against No. 5 LSU’s nasty defense at Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. While Wisconsin pulled off a surprising 16-14 upset, Houston had an up-and-down day.
He completed 19 of 31 passes for 205 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions, including one that was returned by LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White for the Tigers’ first score. Following games against Akron and Georgia State, Wisconsin faces a brutal four-game stretch against Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State and Iowa, with only Ohio State at home.
Houston will have to pick up his game if he wants to keep his starting role.
Grade: C-
Virginia QB Kurt Benkert
23 of 23
Virginia is a program in dire need of stability, and no position exemplifies that more than quarterback. When East Carolina graduate transfer Kurt Benkert was named as the starting quarterback, he became Virginia's 10th starting quarterback in the last 11 years.
Benkert made his first Cavalier start in coach Bronco Mendenhall’s debut, and while he was far from terrible, it won’t be a day that folks in Charlottesville will remember fondly. Virginia couldn’t stop FCS power Richmond’s offense and suffered a surprising 37-20 defeat.
Benkert actually performed pretty capably, completing 26 of 34 passes for 264 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. It was an effort that will likely get lost among the larger story of a very disappointing opener.
Grade: B
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
