OT: Maryland QB Danny O'brien transferring - MSU and Wiscy in the mix
College free agency has begun for Mr. O'brien. He graduates this spring with eligibilty and is looking elsewhere -- MSU and Wisconsin are just two of the names reportedly in the mix.
His 2010 season was much better than 2011. He has potential and was in a new system this year.
sixth article down on this page.
http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/
February 15th, 2012 at 10:43 AM ^
from what I hear.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:46 AM ^
No way.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:46 AM ^
If he goes to State, you can put them in the Rose bowl now
February 15th, 2012 at 10:50 AM ^
February 15th, 2012 at 11:03 AM ^
faith is for the players in the game. just saying, on paper they'd have the best team by far.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:17 AM ^
Not really. They'd be teaching a QB an entirely new system, and he would be throwing to receivers with no game experience. Their rushing offense was ranked in the 70's last year. Their offense does not look good on paper.
EDIT: Here is O'brien's stat line from 2011:
Att Comp PCT YDS YDS/A TD Int Rating
266 150 56.4 1648 5.8 7 10 109.6
Not exactly a stellar QB. Even if they get him, my money is on Maxwell starting.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
He was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2010- as a fan of the Terps I think his regression in 2011 was more the result of Edsall and Crowton than it was his talent. He is still a very good QB.
This was his 2010 line:
| G | Cmp | Att | Comp % | Yds | Yd/A | TDs | Int |
| 13 | 192 | 337 | 57.0 | 2438 | 7.2 | 22 | 8 |
February 15th, 2012 at 11:38 AM ^
Those numbers are better, but nothing earth-shattering. Even if he was able to lock down MSU's offense during his first year there it's highly unlikely that he'd do better for them than Cousins. BigRedWolverine makes it sound like this guy is Peyton Manning.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:09 PM ^
Peyton Manning was never that great in college either, though. I mean... his best season he was beaten out for the Heisman by a defensive player. Who does that?
February 15th, 2012 at 12:31 PM ^
While there is no way I would ever pick Peyton's season over Woodsons, you cannot deny the fact that he played pretttty well.
61% comp rate
3820 yards
37 TDs
11 Ints
(thats almost 3 TDs a game)
February 15th, 2012 at 2:16 PM ^
I believe bwgrimliaihw25265 forgot the "/s"
February 15th, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^
Peyton Manning in college? Puh-leeze. It was Manning's choke job and utter collapse against Nebraska that cost Michigan an undisputed MNC. Tom Osborn's politicking and the timing of his retirement announcement had a lot to do with it, but if Manning could have perfromed even 75 percent as good as his hype, Nebraska wouldn't have gotten the blowout that won the coaches' poll for them.
At least we can still bask in the fact that UT fans still think Charles Woodson has "Peyton Manning's Heisman."
February 15th, 2012 at 12:42 PM ^
You are aware that O'Brien played for Maryland last year, right? They were a step above Eastern Michigan. He's wouldn't need to pass a ton at State. They can ride Leveon Bell and that defense. BTW they have D. Arnett.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:56 PM ^
That is what they said about Russell Wilson, although Wiscy had a way better O line and RB's. Wilson's stats were nowhere near as good the year before as when he went to Wiscy....he had thrown a ton of INT's.
This guy would be an upgrade over what Wiscy has now, which is not much.
February 15th, 2012 at 5:48 PM ^
I'd be asking some serious questions about ethics and a University that keeps landing transfers...that's kinda out there not normal to me.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:27 PM ^
Isn't that the same University whose coach hung 83 on Indiana? I'm pretty sure we don't need any shocking revelation that Wisconsin isn't exactly the model of B1G class
February 16th, 2012 at 1:31 AM ^
This is an absolutely absurd statement.
We aren't discussing transfers or CC players with O'Brien and Wilson. These are players who have completed their bachelor degrees and are going elsewhere to pursue a graduate degree in their field that their original school doesn't offer.
Is there potential for abuse? Absolutely. But it would be pretty awful to insinuate such a thing with literally no evidence whatsoever.
In the case of O'Brien, the kid finished his bachelor degree program in just 3 years on campus. That isn't the MO of a slacker or a student unwilling to put the work in.
You want to investigate Auburn for Cam Newton and Nick Fairley? I can't argue.
You want to investigate Alabama b/c Saban is an unobstructed DB? I'm not stopping you.
You want to investigate Oregon for paying well connected recruiters to deliver some highly touted players? I'm on board.
You want to investigate OSU b/c Urban Meyer has got to be doing something wrong, or has a magical Jafar-like staff? I'll enjoy watching.
Even if you want to investigate Wisconsin for a handful of other reasons, it's fine with me. But this is not the area where they are doing anything unethical at all.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:20 AM ^
You mean a guy who won two games last year in a bad conference, who threw more picks than TDs, who is no threat to run, and who will have to learn a new offense and chemistry with WRs who are inexperienced themselves, is going to put MSU over the hump and send them to the Rose Bowl? What do you know that I don't?
February 15th, 2012 at 11:25 AM ^
He also spent 2011 with a moronic HC and OC and lost two of his best playmakers to the NFL, WRs LaQuan Williams and Torrey Smith. I think he is still a solid QB and his 2011 was a result of an awful new staff and system than his own talent.
Not saying he would put MSU in the Rose Bowl, but he isn't awful.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:39 AM ^
I'm not saying the kid is a bum, but like you said, in 2010 he had two senior future-NFL receivers to throw to (a luxury he won't have at MSU), not to mention his stats were a little padded by playing in the ACC and putting up a bunch of stats against Morgan State, FIU and ECU where Maryland scored 62, 42, and 51, respectively.
At MSU he'll have his third new offense in three years, young and unproven receivers, and Big Ten defenses to deal with. My point was not that he sucks, but that he's not going to make MSU any better, let alone push them into the Rose Bowl automatically.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
Oh yea, he is far from a savior and he will have to hope his transition at whatever school he goes to will be better than his last transition was. He has the potential to be in the top half of Big Ten QBs in my opinion from watching him play, but not the elite. I think he would be an improvement over a lot of teams situations though, and I hope I don't have to root against him.
February 15th, 2012 at 4:47 PM ^
Srsly?
Against my Temple Owls he was a paltry 17/33 for 153 with a pick losing 38 -7.
He does not scare me.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:19 PM ^
...can be explained away by Maryland's horrific defense and O'Brien constantly working against a multiple touchdown deficit. But otherwise what you said.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^
That's fair, but he actually didn't have that many picks (10), it's just that his TD number was crazy low (7). He only played in 9 games, but 7 TDs in 9 games is bad, especially considering most of those games were against bad teams.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:50 PM ^
I know that they were in the B1G title game last year. They return the best running back in the conference, the best defense in the conference, and O'Brien can do at least what Cousins did.
He isn't a great QB, but they don't need a great QB to win the conference because they have everything else. MSU is predicted by most to be the best team in the B1G without him, an upgrade at QB would make them the favorite by everyone.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:44 AM ^
Don't understimate Maxwell. He's got everything you need and more to be an NFL quarterback. I think he's better than Cousins and if you give him a summer to practice with his receivers, he will be very difficult to stop. However, by the time we see him, our defense will FINALLY be in the 2nd year of a system and should be vastly improved. I could see our secondary being very difficult to throw against.
February 15th, 2012 at 8:13 PM ^
I don't think they have UCLA on the schedule this year.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:49 AM ^
A fantastic way for Bielma and Dantonio to make up for mediocre recruting classes... College Free Agency.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
Oh wait - Urban Meyer changed that.
February 15th, 2012 at 3:32 PM ^
How have you already judged their classes as mediocre? They havent played a game yet.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:51 AM ^
I hear Wisconsin is in the mix for Peyton Manning too...
February 15th, 2012 at 10:53 AM ^
You forgot the "(NTDO'B)"
February 15th, 2012 at 10:55 AM ^
I'm not sure where that article got its "rumors," but according to the Wash Post, the B1G has not been among those pursuing him.
Unfortunately, this article doesn't really describe where it got its rumors either. At least the WP is reputable? Kind of? Ok.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
He'd be an idiot to go to MSU, where he'll have to compete for the starting job. He could start from Day 1 at Wisky.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:02 AM ^
Compete for a starting job? No Way!
February 15th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
You make it sound like Maxwell is different than the backups at Wisco. They are all rated around the same recruiting wise, so why would O;Brien not have to compete at Wisco like he would at MSU for the job?
The only difference I can see if that he might have to compete with MORE QBs at Wisco because at State, it is pretty much Maxwell or bust. In other words, people are penciling Maxwell in because there are no other realistic options, that shouldn't be taken as a sign that he is better than whoever rises out of the QB ranks at Wisco.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^
Maxwell is supposed to be better than Cousins, if you believe the Sparty chatter.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:32 AM ^
This blog post does a good job of summarizing Wisky's current QB situation: http://www.buckys5thquarter.com/2012/2/7/2783523/way-too-early-position-preview-quarterbacks.
So they basically have a RS junior who may or may not even be healthy enough to play, a RS senior who was a dual threat until he tore his ACL twice, a RS soph and a couple of freshmen. One more injury and Angry Wisconsin QB Hating God will become a thing.
I'll take my chances with Maxwell.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:46 AM ^
the RS soph and freshman. It is possible they are better than Maxwell. Let alone the RS junior if he is healthy.
I know you will take your chances with Maxwell, but he is as much of an unknown quantity as any other garbage time QB with somewhat similar rankings.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:05 PM ^
Sure, it's possible, but I'm glossing over him because the Wisky writer lists him as the third choice behind two guys with career-threatening injuries. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.
February 15th, 2012 at 12:52 PM ^
February 15th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^
It was a list with old guys first.
February 16th, 2012 at 2:14 AM ^
Are you serious? Listen to your own arguments. Below are the QB's;
- Maxwell: RS-Jr. Rivals 4* recruit who has had 3 solid seasons learning the system and learning from a great leader in Cousins. Has been rumored to be developing very well. Had beaten out Joe Boisture (very highly touted recruit in the 2010 class) prior to Boisture having to retire due to injury.
- Budamyr: RS-Jr. Rivals 3* recruit who has been in and out of development due to some serious nerve issues in his throwing arm. Seemingly no better than a 50/50 chance at being healthy.
- Phillips: RS-Sr. Rivals 4* recruit who came in quite highly touted as a dual-threat QB. Beat out Budamyr as a RS-Fr in 2009, when Budamyr was a true freshman. Was seemingly progressing well, until he tore his right ACL. In all, he ended up tearing his right ACL twice, and has experienced multiple setbacks to his recovery. There is serious doubt whether Phillips will be healthy for fall camp, and him being healthy by then is viewed as a best-case scenario. Even if he is healthy, there is even more doubt about how effective he might be as a running QB when he hasn't had full use of his right leg for so long.
- Brennan: RS-So. Rivals 3* recruit who came in and ended up being Wilson's backup in 2011 as a RS-Fr b/c there was nobody else available. Has limited game experience, and has reportedly had an average progression thus far.
- Stave: RS-Fr. Walk-on player who enrolled early and will be in his second Spring session. There have been rumors that if came to a head-to-head competition, Stave would beat out Brennan for the starting job. I firmly believe that starting a RS-Fr walk-on is a near disaster situation. Even the coaches weren't confident enough to extend the kid a scholarship, and yet he is progressing faster than Brennan?
- Houston. True Fr. Rivals 3* recruit who is considered the most highly regarded recruit at the QB position. Was unable to enroll early, so will not hit campus until August. It is highly unlikely that Houston is able to start in 2012, but the QB situation is so dire that it can't be ruled out, and in the poll linked above he is voted as the far and away 2nd most likely starter (behind Stave).
So, per your own statement, which of Wisconsin's QBs is a "garbage time QB with similar rankings"? For my money, it appears that there is only Phillips, who has had extensive injury issues. So how is Wisconsin's QB situation better?
February 15th, 2012 at 12:58 PM ^
You don't have any choice. Maxwell is your only option.
February 15th, 2012 at 10:56 AM ^
February 15th, 2012 at 11:00 AM ^
Unless he wants to back up Maxwell. There are much clearer opportunities to playing time than at State. Maxwell went 18/26 last year against mostly crappy opponents, but nonetheless seems like a fairly solid QB and probably better than O'Brien, who threw for 56% and had a TD to int ratio of 7/10 in the ACC. Not exactly a stud.
Wisc, on the other hand, makes a lot of sense.
February 15th, 2012 at 11:06 AM ^
I don't see State expressing an interest in this guy so he can back up Maxwell.
Your assessment of Maxwell as a "fairly solid QB" is fine, but to say he is "probably better than O'Brien is crazy given that O'Brien has actually started and won games, while Maxwell is "all potential" at this point. If MSU takes an experienced QB, it won't be for him to sit behind an unknown quantity.
February 15th, 2012 at 1:26 PM ^
I don't think State is expressing that much interest in him just because a rumor lists State as one of 10 schools looking at him.
And I don't know what it is with people around here that they are so afraid to admitt Maxwell might be a pretty good QB. Has he played any meaningful downs? Not many, but he was a mid-level 4-star QB according to Rivals. I've seen him play, he did well at elite 11 camps.
Yes, it's true he's all potential, but half the people here are to into "everyone of State's players is going to suck next year" to see the truth. Saying "would you rather have someone who has actually won games or someone who just has potential" is idiotic. Would you rather have Threet in RR's second year or Tate? Tate was all potential, Threet had actually won something? And Tate was a true freshman, not someone who has had college coaching for 2 and a half years.
I think Maxwell, from what I've seen of him, can step in and be a mid-level Big Ten QB. There are probably only a handful of QBs I'd take in the Big Ten over him: Denard, Iowa's QB, Miller, and that's about it. Maybe Martinez. It's not like a very mediocre ACC QB is going to do you that much better than someone who has been in a system for a couple years and has pretty decent potential. But most of the people around here are so bitter State won the last couple years to admit they may just be ok next year. It's stupid. Get your collective heads out of your collective asses and realize that they probably aren't that bad, and Maxwell probably isn't that bad either. It doesn't mean they are going to beat Michigan next year, I don't think they will, but they will probably be pretty good again next year. Quit acting trite and Juvenile about it.