2013 Big 12 Recruiting: A Closer Look At Quarterbacks


NCAA Football: Grambling State at Texas Christian

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The Big 12 has seen great quarterbacks come through the league and set NCAA and conference records in the last few years. The 2013 recruiting class is full of talent that could do the same in the near future. Below are each Big 12 teams quarterback recruits from 2013 and a prediction on their roles they could play this season.

The Baylor Bears brought in 6-foot-5, 195-pound dual-threat quarterback Chris Johnson. Johnson, a big and versatile quarterback out of Bryan, Texas was the number-24 ranked dual-threat quarterback in the nation in 2013 according to Rivals.com. Baylor is already set for quarterback as senior Bryce Petty will take the field in 2013, but Johnson will most likely red-shirt the 2013 season as red-shirt freshman Seth Russell will be backup to Petty.

The Iowa State Cyclones picked up two quarterbacks for their 2013 recruiting class. First is 6-foot-2 190-pound dual-threat quarterback Trevor Hodge out of Perris, California. Hodge is a three star recruit according to Rivals.com. Next is 6-foot-2, 200-pound dual-threat quarterback Joel Lanning out of Ankeny, Iowa. Lanning is also a three star quarterback. Both players have similar height and weight and have very similar attributes as athletes who can scramble. Neither are listed on the 2013 depth chart for the Cyclones so it won’t be surprising if Paul Rhodes and the Cyclones red-shirt both quarterbacks this season.

The Kansas Jayhawks, also signed two quarterbacks for the 2013 recruiting class. The Jayhawks will use BYU transfer Jake Heaps this year as their starting quarterback. 6-foot-2, 180-pound dual-threat quarterback Montell Cozart out of Roeland Park, Kansas and 6-foot-4, 226-pound pro style quarterback Jordan Darling out of Prarie Village, Kansas will both likely either red-shirt or see limited action this season as Kansas already has their two deep set for 2013.

The Kansas State Wildcats signed Jessee Ertz, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound pro-style quarterback out of Mediapolis, Iowa. Ertz is the 9th ranked pro-style quarterback in Iowa in the 2013 recruiting class and is expected to red-shirt this season. They also signed 6-foot-2 215-pound junior college dual-threat quarterback Jake Waters. Waters will serve as back up to starter Daniel Sams this season and could see some playing time when needed.

The Oklahoma Sooners signed highly touted pro style 6-foot-5, 220-pound quarterback Cody Thomas for the 2013 recruiting class. Thomas was a Rivals.com top-250 player and was ranked as the number seven quarterback in his class. Despite his talent, Thomas isn’t expected to have an impact for the Sooners next year as Bob Stoops’ squad is set at the quarterback position. Junior Blake Bell is the expected starter with red-shirt freshman Trevor Knight backing Bell up.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys were the only Big 12 team who did not pick up a quarterback for the 2013 recruiting class. With the transfer of Wes Lunt, the Cowboys will still need to find their quarterback and it’s been speculated that head coach Mike Gundy may not release his starting quarterback until opening week this fall.

The Texas Longhorns are really set for the quarterback position for the 2012 season with David Ash as the starter and Case McCoy as the back up. This didn’t stop the Longhorns from picking up one of the best quarterback prospects of 2013 in dual-threat quarterback Tyrone Swoopes. Swoopes, a 6-foot-5, 229-pound quarterback out of Whitewright, Texas has great speed and vision and could develop into another Vince Young for the Longhorns if everything goes right.

The TCU Horned Frogs brought in 6-foot-3, 185-pound dual-threat quarterback Zach Allen out of Temple, Texas. Allen is ranked as the number 18 quarterback in the 2013 class. Allen is listed as the fourth quarterback in the depth chart behind Trevone Boykin, Casey Pachall and Tyler Matthews. Look for Allen to be red-shirted this season and battle for the starting spot in 2014.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will most likely be giving the keys to the quarterback position to red-shirt sophomore Michael Brewer, but incoming 2013 quarterback recruit Davis Webb has impressed Kliff Kingsbury and the Red Raider coaching staff after enrolling early and battling Brewer for the starting quarterback spot. Webb, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound quarterback out of Prosper, Texas will see the field either way in 2013.

The West Virginia Mountaineers will certainly miss Geno Smith who was drafted in this years NFL draft. The Mountaineers brought in dual-threat Chavas Rawlins, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound quarterback out of Monessen, Pennsylvania. West Virginia will likely start either junior Paul Millard or Trickett in 2013 and red-shirt Rawlins to learn the system for 2014.

 

Be sure to check out the Rant Sports 100 in 100 Series, a preview of the top 100 College Football Teams for the 2013 Season!



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