From North Carolina to Pitt, Cincinnati to South Carolina, and Kentucky to Tennessee, there are several major quarterback battles going on across the country, like at USC where Mark Sanchez has to hold off Mitch Mustain. Richard Cirminiello breaks down the 20 biggest battles and who the eventual winner will probably be.
Nothing cranks up
the spring hype machine like an old-fashioned battle between two or
three deserving quarterbacks. These days, most coaches will refrain
from announcing a starter until August, but that doesn’t mean March and
April won’t have a profound impact on who eventually sits atop the depth
chart for the opener. While there are going to be jump balls for jobs
in every corner of the map, in places like Los Angeles, Ann Arbor, and
Happy Valley, the competitions will be watched and scrutinized with
particular interest from a national audience.
20. North Carolina – T.J. Yates was the starter as a
redshirt freshman, so he’s a lock to get the nod again, right? Maybe
not. After throwing five touchdowns and 15 interceptions over the final
nine games, he’ll have to make marked improvement to remain ahead of
junior Cam Sexton and freshman Mike Paulus. Sexton, in
particular, has quietly had a terrific off-season, spending time with
passing guru Tom Martinez, Tom Brady’s personal quarterback coach, and
getting in fantastic shape. He’s committed to recapturing the starting
job he briefly had in 2006, putting pressure on Yates to step up his
game. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... T.J. Yates
19. Maryland – The Terps and new offensive coordinator James
Franklin need a lot more from the quarterbacks, which produced just nine
touchdown passes a year ago. Jordan Steffy was ineffective as
the starter in September, giving way to Chris Turner after
suffering a concussion against Rutgers. Turner did little to padlock
the job, meaning Josh Portis will again be viewed as the savior
even though he’s never taken a snap for Maryland. The Florida transfer
with the sizable upside sat out 2006 and was declared ineligible in 2007
for cheating on a spring semester quiz. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Josh Portis
18. Tulsa – Long-time backup David Johnson is the favorite
to win the keys to one of the nation’s hottest offenses, but the senior
is by no means a slam dunk. Yeah, he’s got a slight edge in experience,
but that won’t prevent sophomore Clark Harrell and JUCO transfer
Jacob Bower from coming out hurling in the spring. Of particular
interest is Bower, a 22-year old former BYU quarterback, who threw for
35 touchdowns and 3,144 yards at Bakersfield (Calif.) College last
season. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Jacob Bower
17. Pittsburgh – Others, such as Greg Cross and Kevan
Smith could get in the mix, but the quarterback derby at Pitt
essentially comes down to the veteran, Bill Stull, and the
future, Pat Bostick. Stull was the starter before tearing
ligaments in his thumb in the opener, opening the door for Bostick to
start nine games as a true freshman. One of the top-rated prepsters of
2007, he made predictable rookie mistakes, but also flashed some of the
potential that earned him numerous high-profile offers. If Stull pulls
away, Bostick is a candidate to be redshirted this year. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Pat Bostick
16. Cincinnati – There was hope that Ben Mauk would be back for
one more season, but the NCAA denied his request for another year of
eligibility. Although Dustin Grutza is a fifth-year senior with
26 games of experience, there’s a reason he’s been in and out of the
lineup throughout his career. He doesn’t do any one thing great,
creating a massive opportunity for Demetrius Jones in his first
season since transferring from Notre Dame. Jones has the athletic
ability to be a real nice fit in Brian Kelly’s Cat Attack offense,
putting him within shouting distance of a plum starting job. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Dustin
Grutza
15. Kentucky – While it’ll be impossible to replace Andre Woodson
with a better passer, the ‘Cats will have a better athlete behind center
this fall. Both junior Curtis Pulley and sophomore Mike
Hartline are dual-threats that can tuck it and run as well as some
of the Kentucky backs. Pulley, who was a scout team star last year, has
played some wide receiver in Lexington and is most dangerous ad-libbing
in the open field. Hartline is a 6-6 former high school hurdler and
high jumper, who backed up Woodson when Pulley redshirted. Whoever wins
the job will force Rich Brooks and Joker Phillips to modify the playbook
to take advantage of the new starter’s wheels. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Curtis
Pulley
14. Georgia Tech – Paul Johnson needs a quarterback that can run
the option, which is why last year’s starter, Taylor Bennett, is
transferring from Tech. Luckily for the program, sophomore Josh
Nesbitt and Auburn transfer Calvin Booker have the athletic
ability needed to handle the job. As a rookie, Nesbitt displayed plenty
of toughness and quickness in the open field, rushing for 339 yards as a
change-of-pace. He’s got the all-around ability to make Johnson’s first
season a smoother-than-expected transition. While Booker isn’t as
explosive with his feet as Nesbitt, he’s much thicker, more experienced,
and the more polished passer of the two. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Josh Nesbitt
13. UCLA – Beyond just landing a starting job, the winner of the
battle between seniors Ben Olson and Patrick Cowan will
get to be quarterback guru Norm Chow’s next project at the college
level. Olson’s early edge in the competition widened when Cowan
underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a piece of cartilage from his
left knee, leaving his availability for spring uncertain. Although
Olson is now on his third offensive coordinator in the last three years,
there’s hope that this one will help bring out a massive amount of
potential that has never made it to the surface. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Ben Olson
12. Tennessee – While junior Jonathan Crompton is the
presumed successor to Erik Ainge, redshirt freshman B.J. Coleman
and sophomore Nick Stephens won’t fade away without a fight. One
of the premier quarterbacks from 2005, Crompton has overcome shoulder
surgery and patiently waited for this chance to lead the offense. A
6-4, 230-pounder, he’s got a strong arm and isn’t afraid to run through
defenders. Coleman and Stephens are a pair of four-star gems from the
2007 and 2006 classes, respectively, that show good feet in the pocket
and have a lot of zip on their passes. New coordinator Dave Clawson has
no prior allegiances, making for a more wide-open competition. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Jonathan
Crompton
11. South Carolina – While Steve Spurrier has raised the talent
level in Columbia, he’s yet to develop a passer that resembles the ones
he had in Gainesville. That could be about to change. Stephen
Garcia might have scrapped his redshirt in 2007, but a couple of
arrests set him back and eliminated any margin for off-field errors.
Still, he has as much potential as any Gamecock, a Brett Favre-wannabe
with the ability to burn defenses with his arm and legs. Garcia will
try to leapfrog sophomore Chris Smelley, who delivered mixed
results in 2007, throwing nine touchdown passes and seven picks.
Garcia’s all the rage, but South Carolina should refrain from dismissing
Smelley, who still has lots of room for growth. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Chris
Smelley
10. LSU – In case you missed it, Ryan Perrilloux is in
trouble again, upping the ante for his backups, redshirt freshman
Jarrett Lee and junior Andrew Hatch. Perrilloux will
probably survive this latest suspension, but just in case he doesn’t,
Lee and Hatch will be grappling for more than just the No. 2 job. The
emphasis will be on preparing Lee, a Matt Flynn-type quarterback from
Texas, as if he’s going to be the starter. Hatch is a walk-on transfer
from Harvard, a unique story, but lacks the measurables to get the most
out of the Tiger receivers. Needless to say, the fate of Perrilloux
will be one of the most closely watched stories of the preseason. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Jarrett Lee
9. Florida State – Senior Drew Weatherford is the
clear-cut front-runner heading into spring, but if he leaves an opening,
sophomore Christian Ponder is liable to pounce on the
opportunity. Although he’s had a rollercoaster ride of a career, the
hope around Tallahassee is that Weatherford will flourish now that
arch-rival Xavier Lee has left school. Ponder is a gunslinger with
better feet than Weatherford, but he’ll have to be exceptional to make
up for a dearth of game experience. Long-term, all eyes will eventually
be on incoming freshman E.J. Manuel, a 6-5 blue-chipper that’s
drawing comparisons to former Jimbo Fisher pupil, JaMarcus Russell. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Drew
Weatherford
8. Oregon – The Ducks got a sneak preview of life after Dennis
Dixon, and it wasn’t pretty. The offense was suspect after he went down
last November until Justin Roper delivered a tight,
four-touchdown effort in the Sun Bowl ambush of South Florida. While
Roper certainly helped his cause in El Paso, it should be noted that
fellow sophomore Nate Costa was higher on the depth chart before
tearing left knee ligaments in October. Healthy again, he’s ready to
compete for the starting job. Also in the hunt, but to a lesser extent,
are sophomore Cody Kempt and Cade Cooper, a transfer from
BYU and former Junior College Offensive Player of the Year. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Justin
Roper
7. Miami – No matter what happens in the spring and summer, the
Hurricanes will have a freshman starting at quarterback when Charleston
Southern visits Aug. 28. Redshirt freshman Robert Marve and
first-year freshmen Jacory Harris and Cannon Smith are
already locking horns, although it’s unlikely a starter will be named
anytime soon. Marve has a slight edge by virtue of his one season on
campus, but most of that year was spent recovering from a frightening
car accident that nearly took his life. And the other contenders are
not your ordinary rookies, especially Harris, a smooth all-around
athlete that’ll only get better over time as a passer. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Robert Marve
6. Auburn – New coordinator Tony Franklin is installing the
spread offense at Auburn, but first he has to decide who’ll run it.
Sophomore Kodi Burns has the most experience and is a dynamic
open-field runner, but must make strides as a passer to remain in the
pole position. His stiffest competition comes from JUCO transfer
Chris Todd, who spent two years at Texas Tech and is considered the
most accurate thrower on campus. He also has the unique advantage of
having played in the spread at Elizabethtown (Ky.) High School, which
had brought in Franklin to consult with the Panthers about the nuances
of the offense. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Chris Todd
5. Penn State – Offensive coordinator Galen Hall has indicated he
desires a quarterback that can channel former Lion Michael Robinson,
good news for multi-dimensional junior Daryll Clark. At 6-2 and
235 pounds, he’s a load outside the pocket, something Texas A&M learned
in the Alamo Bowl. Clark’s top priority in the offseason will be to
show the staff he’s maturing as a passer as well. Looking to upend
Clark will be sophomore Pat Devlin, Pennsylvania’s all-time
leading passer and one of the can’t-miss prospects of 2006. A polished
quarterback by every measurement, he’s also surprisingly elusive on the
move. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Pat Devlin
4. Cal – The quarterback situation in Berkeley officially became
delicious when backup Kevin Riley rallied the Bears from behind
in the Armed Forces Bowl, running for a score and going 16-of-19 for 269
yards and three touchdowns through the air. What he lacks in
experience, the sophomore makes up for with mobility and a penchant for
making something out of nothing, which can’t be said about the lumbering
Nate Longshore. Longshore has been inconsistent as a two-year
starter, struggling with injuries and bad reads, while throwing 16 picks
to just 11 touchdowns in eight Cal losses. His grip on the starting job
has begun to slip. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Kevin Riley
3. Virginia Tech – Last season, Tyrod Taylor and Sean
Glennon were both used by coordinator Bryan Stinespring, a winning
formula that helped lead the Hokies to an ACC championship. Whether it
continues will depend on how much growth Taylor exhibits as a passer
since his freshman season. There’s no doubt he’ll be on the field
plenty, but entirely eliminating the need for Glennon’s low-risk passing
will require a breakthrough spring and summer. Glennon isn’t the
flashiest quarterback around, but it’s been proven you can win with him
behind center. A reliable intermediate passer, he finished 2007 by
flipping 11 touchdowns and just three picks over the final eight games. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Sean Glennon
... with Taylor splitting time
2. Michigan – Message to Terrelle Pryor: If you choose Michigan,
you’ll land this job before fall camp opens. In the short, Rich
Rodriguez has a quandary at quarterback, with no one fitting his system
particularly well. Freshman Steven Threet and sophomore David
Cone are lesser versions of Ryan Mallett, the sizable pocket passer
that left Ann Arbor because he was a poor fit for the new offense. Both
have upside as pro-style quarterbacks, but that’s not what Coach Rod is
after at the position. One of them will get shoe-horned into the job,
unless true freshman Justin Feagin lights it up right away or the
Wolverines consider an import, such as RB Carlos Brown or WR
Junior Hemingway, from a different position. The Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ... Steven
Threet
1. USC – How deep are the Trojans at the position? Aaron Corp
is currently an afterthought, despite being one of the most coveted
quarterbacks of 2007. Although his time will come, today’s focus is on
the high-profile competition between junior Mark Sanchez and
sophomore Mitch Mustain, the top-rated prep quarterbacks of 2005
and 2006, respectively. The big-armed Sanchez didn’t wow anyone when
John David Booty was injured last fall, but he’s attacking the offseason
as if he plans to win the job. Mustain was 8-0 as the Arkansas starter
two years ago, and a scout team star for the Trojans in 2007. All three
have the tools to start for about 100 programs across the country,
putting pressure on Pete Carroll to keep the second and third-stringer
from becoming disgruntled. The
Pre-Spring Best Guess Starter Will Be ...
Mark Sanchez
