A ranking of Big 12 quarterbacks.
A new crop of young and talented quarterbacks are set to take over offenses in the Big 12 Conference.
Here is a look at where each school in the league ranks at the quarterback position:
A pair of junior quarterbacks enter spring practice looking to emerge from Baker Mayfield’s shadow and lead the Sooners’ offense. Kyler Murray showed promise enough to step into the starting role during Mayfield’s one-game suspension late last season. Austin Kendall, meanwhile, has the potential to earn the job with a strong showing. Incoming freshman Tanner Mordecai was the crown jewel of Oklahoma’s recruiting class and shows plenty of skill.
Will Grier was having a career-best season when the former UF passer suffered a seasonending injury to his throwing hand late last year. Grier’s decision to bypass the NFL draft and return to school instead has the redshirt senior one of the early favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Redshirt junior Chris Chugunov, who stepped up in Grier’s absence, and former Miami transfer Jack Allison will push for the backup job.
The Horned Frogs must turn the page at the quarterback position with the departure of Kenny Hill. Sophomore Shawn Robinson saw limited action as the primary backup, giving the dualthreat quarterback a slight advantage heading into spring. Senior Grayson Muehlstein will push for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart but could face a challenge from promising freshman Justin Rogers.
Quarterback became a position of concern for the Wildcats in 2017 after second-year starter Jesse Ertz went down with a season-ending injury five games into the season. Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton split the remainder of the games and both figure to play prominently in the competition for the job this spring.
Mason Rudolph departs Oklahoma State as the school’s career leader in passing yards, attempts, completions and COMMENTARY total offense. Hawai’i transfer Dru Brown, who passed for more than 2,700 yards for the Rainbow Warriors in 2017, could take over the job. If Brown doesn’t click, redshirt senior Taylor Cornelius has the most experience, playing in eight games during his time in Stillwater.
Nobody is happier that Kyle Kempt received a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA than Cyclones coach Matt Campell. With Kempt last season, Iowa State put together its second winning season in more than a decade.
All eyes will be on the Longhorns this spring as one of the most closely contested quarterback competitions takes place between junior Shane Buechele and sophomore Sam Ehlinger. Tom Herman has a history of pulling the right strings when it comes to the quarterback position, but this one could make-or-break the season for Texas.
Count Texas Tech among the Big 12 programs in search of a new starter heading into fall camp. It’s the second consecutive season in which the Red Raiders will have someone new running the offense. Junior McLane Carter, who saw limited action behind Nic Shimonek last season, comes into camp as the early favorite for the job.
Baylor suffered through growing pains in its first season under Matt Rhule. Part of those challenges included the Bears using three different quarterbacks throughout the season, with only sophomore Charlie Brewer set to return in 2018. It’s Brewer’s job to lose, but he’ll face some competition from Gerry Bohanon, a four-star dual-threat quarterback already enrolled in school.
Peyton Bender and Carter Stanley shared the starting job throughout last season, with both struggling at times to provide a spark for an offense that finished last in the Big 12. With no clear-cut favorite, expect the pair to battle for the job along with freshman Miles Kendrick, a dual threat who as an early enrollee could push the pair during spring.