Trending News

College Football Preseason: 5 Starting Quarterback Competitions to Keep an Eye On

By

With a number of college football spring games scheduled for this weekend, there are still several powerhouse programs that need to figure out who their QB is.

1.     No quarterback competition will be more heavily covered than Ohio State's. On one hand is Braxton Miller, a two-time Big Ten offensive Player of the Year who missed all of last season with a shoulder injury. Then there is J.T. Barrett, who led the Buckeyes to a one-loss season in Miller's stead. But when Barrett broke his ankle in the team's season finale, it was Cardale Jones who delivered the conference title and College Football Playoff victories over Alabama and Oregon.

The Columbus Dispatch noted Ohio State is expecting a massive attendance for the reigning national champions' spring game. It is a seemingly impossible decision facing coach Urban Meyer, one he hopes to make "by the middle of training camp."

2.     Alabama benefitted from a QB competition last year when senior Blake Sims beat out transfer Jake Coker and led the team to a one-loss season. Like A.J. McCarron before him, Sims has moved on after exhausting his NCAA eligibility and Coker now has this last season to try to earn the position. Coker lost the starting competition at Florida State to Jameis Winston before transferring.

Coach Nick Saban put both Coker and Alec Morris on the Crimson Tide's White Team, which features most of the first-team starters, the Anniston Star reported.

3.     Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is in the same place it was last year, going into training camp trying to choose between Everett Golson and Malik Zaire. Golson won the position last year, but could not hold it all season. According to Rivals.com, Kelly will be calling run-option plays for both QBs in order to fully showcase their abilities.

4.     As LSU tries to restore itself to a SEC powerhouse, they will need to figure out who their QB is. The Times Picayune indicated the competition will be between Anthony Jennings and Brandon Harris. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron has liked what he has seen from both, telling the newspaper they "are headed in the right direction."

5.     Perhaps the most daunting for whoever wins it will be the competition at Oregon. Last season, Jeff Lockie was Marcus Mariota's clear backup, but the school also added transfer Vernon Adams, who put up huge numbers playing in the FCS. Oregon coach Mark Helfrich told the Statesman Journal Lockie "has been outstanding" in all aspects the position entails.

But due to his transfer, Adams has not been able to fully participate with the Ducks. It may be an uphill battle for him, but he at least seems to have the upside it would take to seize the starting position. Whoever helms Oregon's offense, they are taking over for one of the school's greatest quarterbacks of all time.

© 2024 University Herald, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics