College Football 2011: Landry Jones and the Big 12's Starting Quarterbacks

Summer is just about here, and college football is slowly starting to climb into the thoughts of fans everywhere. It’s hard to believe that in just a few short months we will be back watching our favorite teams compete for the BCS Championship, making it some of the most exciting months of the year.

Teams have a difficult time making it anywhere without a good quarterback at the helm, and the Big 12 has, for the most part, turned out some pretty good talent at the position. Quarterbacks have been able to see a lot of success in the Big 12, and some recent Big 12 quarterbacks (see: Sam Bradford and Vince Young) have seen success in the NFL.

One of the biggest questions heading into the season for some Big 12 teams is just how well will their starting quarterbacks do this year. 

For some, the question starts with who will be their quarterback this year. Missouri lost Blaine Gabbert to the NFL, so who is going to take over for him? 

Let’s take a quick look at the starting quarterbacks for each team in the new Big 12 (not including Nebraska and Colorado) and see how they might do in 2011.

Texas: Garrett Gilbert

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AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 25: University of Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert #8 rushes during the first half against Texas A&M at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 25, 2010 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)

This will be Gilbert’s second season as the starter in Texas, and he’s bound to have a better season than he did last year. 

Gilbert will have a new offense to get used to, but he has the skill and ability to make it a much better season in 2011 as Texas climbs back into contention.

Kansas State: Collin Klein

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BOULDER, CO - NOVEMBER 20: Quarterback Collin Klein #7 of the Kansas State Wildcats rushes with the ball as Josh Hartigan #55 of the Colorado Buffaloes closes in for the tackle at Folsom Field on November 20, 2010 in Boulder, Colorado. Colorado defeated

Last year’s starter, Carson Coffman, is no longer around, so it looks like it’s going to be up to Collin Klein to run the show this year. 

Klein will have junior wide receivers Brodrick Smith and Chris Harper to throw the ball to, but he won’t have the running game Kansas State had last year to back him up. If he starts the season strong, Klein should be able to help lead this team to a better season in 2011.

Texas A&M: Ryan Tannehill

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ARLINGTON, TX - JANUARY 07: Quarterback Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Texas A&M Aggies looks to throw a pass against the Louisiana State University Tigers during the AT&T Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium on January 7, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Chris

Tannehill will come back to start for the Aggies as their quarterback this season after being converted from the wide receiver position last year.

With spring and summer drills at the quarterback position being used to get him more used to the offense, Tannehill should be able to have a nice season and help lead the Aggies to a winning record in 2011.

Oklahoma: Landry Jones

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 01: Landry Jones #12 of the Oklahoma Sooners throws the ball against the Connecticut Huskies during the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2011 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Peters

Landry Jones will be back for his junior season and could end up being the best quarterback in the Big 12 when it’s all said and done. 

Jone will have senior wide receiver Ryan Broyles to throw the ball to, and the Sooners may have to rely on Jones often this coming season after losing DeMarco Murray to the NFL.

Oklahoma State: Brandon Weeden

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STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Brandon Weeden #3 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an open receiver against the Oklahoma Sooners at Boone Pickens Stadium on November 27, 2010 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Image

The Cowboys got some nice production out of Brandon Weeden last season and should get even more out of him in 2011. 

With his top wide receiver, Justin Blackmon, returning for another year, Weeden and the rest of the Cowboys' passing offense should shine. You may even see him lead Oklahoma State near the top of the top 25 in 2012.

Kansas: Jordan Webb

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 27: Quarterback Jordan Webb #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks carries the ball into the endzone for a touchdown as Kevin Rutland #20 of the Missouri Tigers defends during the game on November 27, 2010 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Cit

Webb will be just a sophomore next season, but will return to the lineup as a starter with a year of experience under his belt, which will only serve to help the Jayhawks. 

With seven starts last year to help back him up, along with a full spring and pending summer set of drills, Webb should be able to improve upon what he did in 2010.

Will Webb be able to bring the Jayhawks out of the basement to make them a contender in 2011 though?  We will soon find out.

Baylor: Robert Griffin

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WACO, TX - OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Robert Griffin #10 of the Baylor Bears drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners at Floyd Casey Stadium on October 4, 2008 in Waco, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Last year’s starter Robert Griffin returns this year for another season after helping lead the Bears to a 7-6 record (including a bowl game). 

Griffin put up some nice numbers passing and running the ball as one of the best dual-threats in the Big 12 last season. He will be back and ready to do it again in 2011, and he could lead Baylor to even more wins.

Texas Tech: Seth Doege

With Taylor Potts gone, the Red Raiders will turn to junior Seth Doege to take over at the quarterback position in 2011. 

Doege saw very little action last year, so he will be basically coming in with no experience. Will he be able to lead the Red Raiders to some wins this season?  Doege will have some help from junior wide receivers Marcus Kennard and Hunter Kent, as well senior Jacoby Franks, but it may be a little bit of a rough season for the Texas Tech on offense.

Missouri: James Franklin

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COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 13: Quarterback James Franklin #1 of the Missouri Tigers carries the ball during the game against the Kansas State Wildcats on November 13, 2010 at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty

Sophomore James Franklin will take over for the now-departed Blaine Gabbert, and the Tigers will have to get used to a whole new quarterback on offense. 

Franklin has some experience playing the position in the past (he had two rushing touchdowns and one passing touchdown in limited action last season), so he’s not too green, but there will be a drop-off now that Gabbert is gone.

Hopefully Franklin will be able keep the Tigers' momentum from last year going to at least get them into a bowl game.

Iowa State: Jerome Tiller

The Cyclones are another Big 12 team undergoing a quarterback change this season, as Jerome Tiller is taking over for last year’s starter (and now departed) Austen Arnaud. 

Tiller has seen some success as a starter, so the Cyclones may end up doing even better than they did in 2010.