Do we need a QB in this class now?

Submitted by JTGoBlue on

Looking around for what QB's are still available, and gleaned this from ESPN:

Jacoby Brissett(West Palm Beach, Fla./Dwyer)

Player rank: NR | Position rank: 25 | Grade: 78 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220 pounds |

 

ESPN overview:

Brissett is one of the most physically impressive quarterback prospects this class has to offer. He is tall, strong and can make all the throws you want from within the pocket. He is a good athlete, but we would not necessarily call him a dual-threat. He plays under center in the shotgun, has the size to scan the field and is an imposing figure within the pocket. Reminds us of former LSU QB JaMarcus Russell.


Recruiting update: The Badgers could be the team to beat right now if Brissett leaves the state. Miami and coach Al Golden are coming on strong, while new Florida offensive coordinator Charlie Weis recently made a big impression on Brissett. He potentially has two more visits, and the Gators, Huskies, Gamecocks and Hurricanes are possible candidates.

Cameron Coffman(Peculiar, Mo./Ray-Pec)

Player rank: NR | Position rank: 33 | Grade: 78 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 175 pounds |

 

ESPN overview:

There is an awful lot to like about the gritty signal-caller. He is a sneaky athlete who is much more of a runner than you might think. He has great feet and pocket movement with awareness of pressure and the tools to elude it. He has a live arm, not elite, but powerful enough to take some shots downfield and fit the ball into tight spots underneath because of his quick delivery.
Recruiting update: Unless someone comes in late, it's basically down to Arizona State and Alabama for Coffman. He has already visited the Sun Devils, and he made an unofficial visit to Tuscaloosa over the summer. If the Crimson Tide have room, they could take him.

Stephen Weatherford(Land O'Lakes, Fla./Land O'Lakes)

Player rank: NR | Position rank: 44 | Grade: 77 | Stars: 3
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 200 pounds |

 

ESPN overview:

Weatherford is the type of guy who grows on you the more you watch him. He is an athletic pocket passer with good overall size and a sturdy frame. He can make plays with his legs when he has to and possesses deceptively good arm strength, as evidenced by his throwing at times with not a single foot on the ground and many back-foot tosses.
Recruiting update: The South Florida decommit recently visited Miami and is scheduled to visit Cincinnati this coming weekend or next. Western Kentucky could also get an official visit.

Has anyone heard any rumors, discussion of QB prospects? Thoughts on QB need for this class?

matt mich

January 20th, 2011 at 10:11 PM ^

In almost every class you would want a quarterback, and now that we only have two we might have to get two more to go along with that.  We have two spread quarterbacks right now so I'm thinking that there is going to be injury's going on, so I would like more of a pocket quarterback this year for safe measures.

7NK7

January 20th, 2011 at 10:12 PM ^

on a QB next year. we need more elsewhere right now. if a qb lands in our laps then so be it, but right now dont settle for a 2* or a low 3 just to add depth. just my opinion

7NK7

January 20th, 2011 at 10:26 PM ^

we only have 2 on the roster right now. my point was id rather not settle for a kid i played with at birmingham groves just to give a scholarship away. id rather have a higher rated defensive player vs a lower rated qb at this point. 

it appears that the coaches are stressing defense, and if we hypotheticlly land an sdsu-type qb who probably wouldve never made it to the big10 in the first place then we are simply misguiding our scholarships (tate as an example?). 

like i said if one falls in our laps, then awesome. but at this point in the program i personally (not saying you have to believe this) think that we need to focus on getting the best players at any position of need, not just taking a flier on a kid who will never see the field. 

Magnus

January 20th, 2011 at 10:35 PM ^

We have 85 scholarships to use.  And you'd rather only allocate two scholarships for the most important position on the field?  If we get Matt Wile, we'll have two placekickers!  We're going to be four-and-a-half deep at the corners if Woolfolk, Floyd, Christian, Talbott, Avery, Hollowell, Countess, Greg Brown, and Tamani Carter all play cornerback next year!

And you only want two quarterbacks?

7NK7

January 20th, 2011 at 10:42 PM ^

but what im saying is i dont want to waste even 1 spot on a kid who isnt worthy. i understand qb is important, and yes its the MOST important. i dont want 2 kickers on scholarship, but 1 that could put it in would be nice...all im saying is not to settle for an undeserving player. 

would you take the qb for eastern michigan right now? neither would i...and thats what i fear is what we have left to chase to after. 

so im not really sure how im pissing you off by saying not to waste a spot on a kid who isnt M quality. but rather to make sure its the right guy, qb, rb, dl, ss, whatever it is. thats all im saying

Magnus

January 20th, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^

So you'd rather have 9 cornerbacks than take a flyer on a kid who might (but probably won't) pan out at the most important position on the field?

We've got 9 or 10 scholarships left to use.  I think we could handle taking on a quarterback.

I'm not trying to be a tool here, but you're wrong.  No college coach out there would want just two scholarship quarterbacks on his roster.  Literally, not a single college coach would agree with you.  Even most NFL teams - which are limited to 53 men - typically carry three quarterbacks.

7NK7

January 20th, 2011 at 11:05 PM ^

and normally i would agree. my whole point is that the team needs help in many places. i think we all agree about that. im simply saying that if we end up having to use that 3rd qb whos a true frosh, then hell we r gonna be in a way worse conversation then this! so id rather take the chance, and let luck ride that denard and devin stay healthy and happy and that next year we land a true qb who may have a future. plus its not like we dont have other qbs that are walkons who are probably more advanced for this 1 season then a 2* would be as a freshman. 

with that said, if we have 1 'ship left and its 11:59 on signing day and NO ONE else is coming, then sure use it. 

but if you ask me if i want a kid who will only wear red wristbands and hold up signs versus a big OL or DL who may actually play as soph or jr, then ill take the big nasty

so yes 3rd qb on scholarship would be a nice thing, but being a viable one is highly unlikely at this point. 

justingoblue

January 21st, 2011 at 2:38 AM ^

Obviously not as a 12 (13? 14? Please?) game starter, but do we have any players who could realistically take snaps at QB if it absolutely had to be done?

Like if Denard had gotten knocked out at some point in the Gator Bowl, what would we do? (Assuming we're not burning Gardner's redshirt of course.) Do we go with Kennedy or did any of the DB/WR/RB's play QB at a high level in high school?

S.G. Rice

January 20th, 2011 at 10:23 PM ^

Every time I get worried about a lack of quarterback depth I pull up the video of the Coner shredding Baby Seal U.

And then I'm right back in my happy place.

twisted monster

January 20th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Akil-Dan-Fodio-…. Akil Dan-Fodio would fit the bill for us. He's 6'4, 210lbs, and runs a 4.6 He has only been recruited by Harvard, UAB, and UCF. We should give him a shot. If not, I will start to question who is developing the qb's, because sometimes you can't get what you want and must be able to develop what you have.

Abe Froman

January 20th, 2011 at 10:32 PM ^

i believe jeremy gallon was a qb in HS, yes?

i agree, wait and see and go after a top QB next year.

 

keep in mind, denard will be running less this year, and hopefully will be taking fewer hits because of it.

7NK7

January 20th, 2011 at 10:44 PM ^

but does fitz have the chance to carry the ball at all? the kid seemed to have a lot of the attributes needed. is health the only issue right now?

cypress

January 20th, 2011 at 10:48 PM ^

Its a heck of a gamble, but I'm almost inclined to wait until next year and pray like mad that Devin and Denard dont both go down. Although, if both of them go down and we are playing a random 3 star true freshmen, we're probably screwed either way. Next year we could focus in a top QB that would have 2 years spacing from Devin (3 if the incoming QB redshirts in 2012).