Thursday, July 29th, 2010
The Razorbacks will kick off against Tennessee Tech in 2010-9-4 18:00:00 GMT-05:00
From Chris Low’s SEC Blog at ESPN.com
In short, big spring game numbers don’t always translate into big numbers that next season for a first-time starter. And likewise, modest spring game numbers aren’t always an accurate indicator of what kind of numbers that quarterback is going to put up that next fall.
Hey, I think Brantley is an exceptional talent and one of the top three quarterbacks in the SEC right now. But he still has to go out and prove it. We’ve seen his high school tape. We’ve seen him light up spring practice each of the last two years.
Now, we need to see him when it counts. He’s yet to take a meaningful snap against an SEC defense. Even when he relieved Tebow last season against Kentucky following Tebow’s concussion, that game was already out of hand.
Feldman went back and looked and some spring game statistics for other prominent quarterbacks just before they broke through.
Here’s a glance:
Colt McCoy, Texas, 2006:
Buzz: Mid-level.
Many expected his competitor Jevan Snead to eventually overtake him.
Tim Tebow, Florida, 2007:
17-27 passing for 216 YDs, 3 TDs, 0 INTs.
Buzz: Massive.
Tebow had played extensively as a freshman, serving as the change-of-pace guy to Chris Leak as UF won a national title.
Sam Bradford, Oklahoma, 2007:
9-14 passing for 110 yards; 1 TD.
Buzz: Mid-level.
A redshirt freshman and three-star recruit, he battled the more experience Joey Halzle and the more hyped Keith Nichol.
Daryll Clark, Penn State, 2008:
9-18 passing for 108 yards, 2 TDs.
Buzz: Modest.
Pat Devlin arrived in Happy Valley with more hype but Clark gradually won over skeptics with his leadership and toughness.
Greg McElroy, Alabama 2009:
16-30 passing for 189 yards and 2 TDs, 2 INTs.
Buzz: Modest.
McElroy wasn’t exactly replacing a celebrated QB in John Parker Wilson, but like Clark, he gradually started winning folks over thanks to his intangibles.
Mark Sanchez, USC, 2008:
16-24 passes for 203 yards and 3 TD passes, 1 INT.
Buzz: Mid-level.
Some Trojans observers expected Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain to win the job, but Pete Carroll was sold that Sanchez, a guy who had played a decent amount for the Trojans, was the way to go.
Jake Locker, Washington, 2007:
4-8 passing for 38 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
Buzz: Mid-level.
Huge recruit with amazing tools, the reason the expectations on Locker for his debut season weren’t even higher is because he was so young and raw.
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas, 2009:
15-26 passing for 233 yards with 2 TDs and 2 INTs.
Buzz: Massive.
The Michigan transfer was a big-name recruit with incredible arm strength and size. Only thing slowing down this train was the fact he was playing for a rebuilding program.
Jacory Harris, Miami, 2009:
9-16 passing for 141 yards and 1 INT.
Buzz: Mid-level.
Unflappable local kid who had started a few games as a true freshman, Harris was the Canes’ only viable option.
Kellen Moore, Boise State, 2008:
11-13 passing for 99 yards.
Buzz: Modest.
Combine his lack of size with the fact BSU only had to beat out Eastern Washington to sign him and you get a true sleeper.
Case Keenum, Houston, 2007:
4-9 passing for 143 yards and 2 TDs.
Buzz: Modest.
Texas’ version of Kellen Moore.
Andrew Luck, Stanford, 2009:
18-25 passing for 352 yards and 5 TDs.
Buzz: Mid-level.
If Stanford hadn’t been down for so long, the buzz here would’ve bordered on massive given his pedigree, recruiting rep and the fact Jim Harbaugh wasn’t shy about praising him.
Blaine Gabbert, Missouri, 2009:
17-29 passing for 236 yards and 2 TDs.
Buzz: Mid-level.
Great physical tools but, similar to a few others on this list, he wasn’t taking over a team that had any top-15 talk around it.
Go to Chris Low’s story at ESPN.com
Tags: Accurate Indicator, Change Of Pace, Chris Leak, Colt Mccoy Texas, Daryll Clark, Espn, Espn The Magazine, Florida Quarterback, Game Numbers, Game Statistics, Greg Mcelroy, Joey Halzle, John Brantley, John Parker, Keith Nichol, Pat Devlin, Redshirt Freshman, Spring Game, Spring Practice, Tim Tebow Florida
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