Faculty soccer spring practices are in full swing, and whereas the schedule is staggered round spring breaks and completely different scrimmage dates on the schedule, the tip of March is after we actually begin to concentrate on the massive query marks for high groups within the sport. No spring follow storyline attracts extra intrigue than quarterback battles, and as we put together for the 2024 season, there are some groups poised to be contenders which have but to decide on their starter at crucial place.
Coaches take pleasure in competitors, and a few even prefer to declare that “each place is up for grabs” in spring follow to encourage growth. In actuality, although, we are able to pencil within the QB1 in a number of spots, principally the place there’s an incumbent starter returning however even in some instances the place there’s turnover.
Georgia’s Carson Beck, Texas‘ Quinn Ewers, Penn State’s Drew Allar and Ole Miss‘ Jaxson Dart are all going by means of spring ball dealing with their beginning enterprise for potential top-10 groups. Whereas a training change and transfers have launched competitors, Jalen Milroe is anticipated to be the starter at Alabama till he both falters or is supplanted. Notre Dame’s acquisition of Riley Leonard within the switch portal makes the QB2 battle in South Bend, Indiana, extra fascinating than QB1. And after two years of backing up Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels, the thrill round LSU is that Garrett Nussmeier is able to take management of the explosive Tigers offense.
That leaves a number of high groups and different notable packages with none surefire solutions at quarterback, nonetheless. We have highlighted seven beneath with a highlight on the contenders and an outlook on how issues would possibly play out. It is essential to notice that these competitions might get turned the other way up subsequent month when the spring switch portal window opens (April 15-30), and in some instances, one other participant is perhaps vital to construct out depth or introduce one other competitor to the battle.
We start on the level the place we discover one of the vital notable groups with one of the vital unsure battles, and it simply so occurs to be with the reigning nationwide champions.
Contenders: Jayden Denegal, Alex Orji, Jadyn Davis, Jack Tuttle, Davis Warren
The primary spring practices of the post-Jim Harbaugh period features a highlight on first-year coach Sherrone Moore and his plans to deal with the quarterback place. Having already imprinted his “SMASH” motto as his theme, it is a good wager that Michigan will as soon as once more be a staff that is constructed round dominance on the line of scrimmage fairly than a finesse recreation which requires extra from the quarterback. However, that doesn’t reduce the significance of the place as a result of J.J. McCarthy’s excellence in doing precisely what Michigan wanted him to do is how the Wolverines rolled off the final two Huge Ten titles and gained the nationwide championship in 2023. Our expectation is that Denegal, a 6-4, pro-style quarterback out of California represents one stylistic possibility for Moore and offensive coordinator Kirk Campbell. Orji, in the meantime, has already confirmed his dual-threat capacity in six video games of motion, principally as a specialised risk within the floor recreation. Orji logged speeding makes an attempt in each Faculty Soccer Playoff wins towards Alabama and Washington, so clearly the teaching workers trusts him on the largest levels. Now we have but to see him function as a downfield passer with any regularity, nonetheless. Search for this competitors to pull by means of spring, into fall and probably even into the season.
Contenders: Will Howard, Devin Brown, Lincoln Kienholz, Julian Sayin, Air Noland
Because the disappointing finish to the 2023 season, Ryan Day introduced in a veteran switch with high-level beginning expertise (Howard), a blue-chip early enrollee (Noland) and landed a dedication from a five-star freshman (Sayin), who’s technically a switch regardless that he barely had a cup of espresso with Alabama. Howard, Sayin and Noland have dominated the headlines round a Buckeyes staff that is as star-studded as they arrive, full with the addition of Chip Kelly as offensive coordinator, however this Ohio State workers has to determine how the items are going to suit collectively in a five-man quarterback room the place each certainly one of them was a blue-chip prospect popping out of highschool. Whereas Day needs to encourage competitors all through spring, there’s an assumption that Howard does not select Ohio State over different suitors with out some confidence he will be the starter for what’s his ultimate 12 months of eligibility. Howard had 67 profession touchdowns (48 passing, 19 speeding) throughout 34 video games in 4 seasons at Kansas State, which incorporates being the starter for the Huge 12 title run in 2022 and a lot of the 2023 season. He units a really excessive flooring on the quarterback place, and given his expertise edge and the expertise elsewhere on offense, he is the person to beat.
Contenders: Dillon Gabriel, Dante Moore
After saying goodbye to 2 prolific years with Bo Nix, Oregon went proper again to the switch portal and received each a quarterback for the current and one for the long run. Gabriel is on his third cease and in his ultimate 12 months of eligibility after stuffing the stat sheet at each UCF and Oklahoma, and he is coming off certainly one of his finest seasons with 42 complete touchdowns (30 passing, 12 speeding) and career-highs in completion share (69.3%) and yards per try (9.5) with the Sooners. Gabriel’s competitors features a high-ceiling proposition with Moore, the previous five-star prospect who discovered himself thrown into the fireplace as a real freshman with UCLA in 2023. Moore’s efficiency — 11 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 53.5% completion price — suggests he is the reply for the long run, however he has had a whole offseason to develop and was an authentic Oregon commit earlier than flipping to UCLA popping out of highschool. Dan Lanning might have each gamers to be able to navigate Oregon’s first 12 months of Huge Ten play, so regulate this battle out in Eugene.
Getty Photographs
Contenders: Miller Moss, Jayden Maiava
A record-setting six-touchdown efficiency in USC’s Vacation Bowl win over Louisville seemingly answered the largest query of the post-Caleb Williams period, however Moss could not have the beginning job as locked up as some had assumed. Lincoln Riley’s resolution to herald Maiava from UNLV supplies actual intrigue to USC’s spring follow. Maiava was thrust into the beginning function for the Runnin’ Rebels early within the season on account of harm and by no means gave the job again, throwing for 3,085 yards and 17 touchdowns. Riley informed reporters this week he believes there’s “two starter-level gamers” within the quarterback room, referencing Moss and Maiava, and the Trojans can have the following a number of weeks to determine which one emerges as favourite to start out Week 1. In contrast to fellow Huge Ten foes Ohio State and Oregon, there is no such thing as a main expertise edge; Moss has spent extra time within the system however Maiava has taken extra important reside snaps.
Washington
Contenders: Will Rogers, Dermaricus Davis, Demond Williams Jr.
As Washington was warming up for the CFP Nationwide Championship, Will Rogers stood on the sideline because the inheritor obvious to Michael Penix Jr. The previous Mississippi State quarterback was as productive as they arrive throughout his time with the Bulldogs, and becoming a member of the staff early confirmed a continuity from one switch quarterback to a different in Seattle. Then, Kalen DeBoer took the Alabama job and Rogers entered the switch portal, solely to return to this system in late January. Rogers has a serious expertise edge on the remainder of the quarterbacks within the room, however there’s some fascinating younger expertise on campus this spring to offer competitors. That features Davis, a four-star prospect out of California, whose recreation took a giant soar late in his highschool profession. Davis, like Rogers, entered the switch portal solely to return, and his dedication to first-year coach Jedd Fisch comes with the background of getting been recruited by Fisch throughout his time at Arizona. Talking of, Williams was a four-star prospect signed to Arizona within the early interval of the 2024 cycle who’s following Fisch to Seattle
Contenders: Heinrich Haarberg, Dylan Raiola
One of many largest offseason wins for Nebraska in fairly a while was late flip of Georgia commit and five-star quarterback Dylan Raiola simply days earlier than the early signing interval opened in December 2023. The 6-3, 220-pound Raiola is Nebraska royalty because the son of former All-American offensive lineman Dominic Raiola, and his uncle Donovan is the offensive line coach for the Huskers. However, he is coming into a quarterback battle the place there’s some expertise with Haarberg remaining on the roster after Jeff Sims and Chubba Purdy transferred out of this system. Haarberg had essentially the most success of the three in 2023, however that is a low bar to clear. He was the staff’s main rusher (477 yards, 5 touchdowns) and had moments within the passing recreation, however a 1:1 landing interception ratio and 49% completion price just isn’t what Matt Rhule is searching for out of Nebraska’s QB1. So, both Haarberg must get coached uo, or Raiola must get introduced in control to be able to go as a real freshman. Each eventualities deliver an immense quantity of urgency to Nebraska’s spring ball periods.
Contenders: Taylen Inexperienced, Jacolby Criswell, Malachi Singleton
Whereas the gamers concerned carry some curiosity, the plain draw to Arkansas’ quarterback competitors is the presence of Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator. Inexperienced arrives from Boise State after main the Broncos to a Mountain West title in 2023, however his full physique of labor throughout two years is blended. He totaled 44 touchdowns (25 passing, 19 speeding) throughout two principally full seasons but additionally tallied 15 interceptions and was compelled right into a two-quarterback platoon system halfway by means of 2023 earlier than successful the beginning job again. Criswell has been in this system backing up Ok.J. Jefferson since transferring in from North Carolina final season, as has redshirt freshman Singleton, the previous four-star twin risk prospect out of Georgia. We have got three quarterbacks with fascinating ability units and one of the vital well-respected offensive minds settling into a brand new function, all whereas head coach Sam Pittman faces actual job stress to maintain the Razorbacks aggressive within the SEC. It is a quarterback battle the place we’re low on certainty and excessive on intrigue, which in faculty soccer is usually the perfect place to be.