College Football Rankings: Power Ranking Landry Jones and Every Big 12 QB
Having the best quarterback on the field will win you a lot of games in college football, and nowhere is this truer than in the pass-happy Big 12.
Loaded with many of the country’s top arms, the conference has become a breeding ground for NFL signal-callers.
Read on for a look at next year’s Big 12 QBs, and how they stack up in a crowded field.
10. Jerome Tiller, Iowa State
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After backing up Austin Arnaud for two seasons, junior Jerome Tiller is the favorite to take over as the starter in 2011.
He’s seen limited action so far, attempting just 82 passes in 2010, but the early returns haven’t exactly been promising. He completed a worrisome 47.6 percent in spot duty, accumulating just 363 yards.
Juco transfer Steele Jantz could also win the starting job, but Tiller’s familiarity with the offense appears to give him the inside track. Either way, there’s little reason to expect a turnaround in Ames in 2011.
9. Seth Doege, Texas Tech
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The graduation of Taylor Potts leaves the Red Raiders offense in the hands of junior Seth Doege, the only quarterback on the roster to have attempted a pass at Texas Tech.
Doege has a career total of just 65 attempts (mostly as a freshman), but has completed 41 of them for 427 yards and two TDs.
Texas Tech has shown a remarkable ability to plug in a new showstopping QB every time they lose one to graduation, so the odds are in Doege’s favor to put up solid numbers in 2011.
Whether that will translate to Texas Tech winning games is another question altogether.
8. Jordan Webb, Kansas
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After an impressive debut as a starter (three TDs in a close win over Georgia Tech), Jordan Webb took his share of lumps as a Kansas freshman.
Thanks in part to a shoulder injury, Webb finished with just 1195 passing yards on the year, throwing eight interceptions against seven touchdowns.
Webb has the inside track on the starting job in 2011, and his experience as a starter last year should serve him well.
He’ll need to improve on his 56.5 percent completion rate if he wants his second season to run smoother than his first.
A few more running performances like his 75-yard effort against Texas A&M would also help Webb's cause.
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7. Collin Klein, Kansas State
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Whether Collin Klein has the passing ability to run the Kansas State offense remains an open question. His ability to run the ball, though, isn’t in any doubt.
Klein was the Wildcats’ second-leading rusher with 432 yards and 6 TDs in 2010. The graduation of star halfback Daniel Thomas likely means Klein will be carrying even more often next year.
Klein has thrown just 19 passes in his career, but his impressive 5-TD showing in KSU’s spring game suggests that he may get more opportunity to air it out now that he’s the full-time starter.
With his running ability keeping defenses honest, Klein should be a valuable weapon for the Wildcats in 2011.
6. Tyler Gabbert, Missouri
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Sophomore James Franklin, who played in Missouri’s version of the wildcat formation last season, could be the QB who steps into the void left by Blaine Gabbert.
The bet here, however, is that Gabbert’s little brother Tyler, who has impressed in spring practice, will win the job by the start of the season (with Franklin reprising his wildcat role).
Certainly there isn’t a new QB in the Big 12 who inherits a better situation than Gabbert’s.
All of his big brother’s receivers are back, which should make his freshman season a successful one.
5. Garrett Gilbert, Texas
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After a disastrous 2-6 campaign in the Big 12 (5-7 overall), Texas fans are looking for their team to bounce back in 2011.
For that to happen, Garrett Gilbert will need to prove that he’s learned from his horrendous first season in the starting QB job.
Gilbert did throw for 2,744 yards in 2010, but he managed just 10 TDs against 17 interceptions.
A year of hard-won experience should leave Gilbert ready to lead a Texas recovery next season, but he’ll have to step up to make it happen.
4. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M
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Ryan Tannehill arrived in College Station as a wide receiver, but converted to QB for the 2010 season.
The experiment was, to put it mildly, a success, as Tannehill led the Aggies to a 9-4 record.
With all-conference halfback Cyrus Gray returning behind Tannehill, the Aggies will have one of the conference’s top ground attacks.
Even so, Tannehill is a good bet to improve on the 1638 yards and 13 TDs he posted in 2010.
3. Robert Griffin III, Baylor
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The best run-pass dual threat in the conference, Robert Griffin III made up the lion’s share of the Baylor offense last year.
His 635 rushing yards, combined with an impressive 3501 yards through the air, kept the Bears’ offense moving all season.
Griffin accounted for 30 TDs in 2010, but Baylor finished just 4-4 in conference play.
He’ll need to post even bigger numbers for the Bears to contend in 2011.
2. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State
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One of the breakout stars of 2010, Brandon Weeden combined with star wideout Justin Blackmon to light up scoreboards last season.
For the year, he totaled an enviable 4,277 yards passing and 34 TDs, while throwing just 13 interceptions.
With offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen now at West Virginia, it will be interesting to see if Weeden’s numbers drop off in 2011.
If they don’t, he should have the Cowboys in Big 12 contention once again next season.
1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma
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The scary thing about Landry Jones’ 2010 season is that it might not be the best the Sooners’ star can do.
He posted an epic 4,718 yards passing and 38 TDs last year, but with star halfback DeMarco Murray gone and receivers like Ryan Broyles returning, he could actually put up bigger numbers in 2011.
Oklahoma has a realistic chance to go undefeated in 2011.
If they do, don’t be surprised to see Jones among the Heisman finalists at year’s end.
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