the Quarter Back shuffle

[Swamp Daddy]

During last season and this year too Louisville played the quarterback shuffle trying 3 different ones and not finding much consistency. Our situation has stabilized with Lamar Jackson who is slippery and freaky fast when he runs. Once he gets better at reading the defense his passing, which is good now, should get much better. He may end up exceptional.

and, just as UL gains some consistency, our bowl opponent, Texas A&M, goes the other way losing their number 1 and 2 QBs to transferring. They have plenty of talent otherwise but this may hurt them in the bowl game.

Swamp Daddy

[billybud]

What is going on with the Aggies?

I could see the #2 and #3 QB transferring, not #1 and #2.

Jake Coker and Clint Trickett left FSU with Winston as #1...Coker is guiding Alabama this year and Trickett QB'd WVU for a year.

[Spence]

I don't know. I saw that too. I guess we will find out pretty soon, but I would guess something is going on with a position coach.

[donovan]

I don't know either. But I will speculate. The young men, not only at A&M but elsewhere, were lied to. They are told whatever gets them to commit. When it becomes apparent there is only room for one QB and you feel you are being jerked around, you look elsewhere. This has to do with mid schools trying to move up quickly in this National frenzy. Some schools make it clear. you will back up for a couple of years and then you will be the man for the last two. Others look for a four year wonder. In the end, the kids expectations, hopes and dreams are fed by recruiting and when reality sets in, you look for a different place to live your dream. It can't be just the kids. Happens too often.

[Spence]

I know, from what commits say that Ohio State tells them all that the best at their position plays. That is mostly true, but not always. Jones over Barrett was an example. Also Mike Webber, a running back from Michigan was competing for time this summer and got hurt. He was recovered enough to play in mid October. They decided to red shirt him. He was told he wouldn't redshirt. I think that was true and the coaches changed their mind when he missed time, but it still wasn't truthful.

[billybud]

Nobody is promised playing time, I hope. What they are promised is an opportunity to compete and play.

Most teams have 3 or 4 quarterbacks on the roster...one will be the starter. Some kids look at the recruitment lists and choose to go elsewhere to compete because the competition is too strong...and some kids are confident and will believe that they will be the starter. And it is crushing for a kid who has been "the man" since 6th grade to find out that, at the elite level, he's just another quarterback on the rostar.

[donovan]

What the kids and parents hear may not be what is said. I believe there are players that are told they will play. Strong programs where they reload rather than rebuild are more likely to be honest.

[billybud]

Back in the day before scholarship limits, programs like Nebraska, Texas, and Alabama would have 125 kids on the roster. Sometimes a strategy to keep the kids from another program, sometimes to build great junior and senior depth. The recruits had to know that they may not play.

It came to a head when stuff like this occurred:

"Pittsburgh coach Johnny Majors reportedly gave scholarships to 90 freshmen in 1973, a move that came under scrutiny when the Panthers won the national championship in 1977. In response, the NCAA tried to ensure some equity of competition within particular sports."

[billybud]

Quarterbacks transferring...


Trevor Knight transferring from Oklahoma
Kyle Allen from A&M
Dakota Prukop...to Oregon from FCS
Will Grier from Florida
Kyler Murray from A&M
Patrick Towles from Kentucky to Boston College
Will Gardner from Louisville
Coleman Key from Colorado State
Devante Kincaid from Ole Miss
Grant Rohach from Iowa State
Faton Bauta from Georgia

so far