Next Trubisky? First-year starting QBs set to take stage
As the backup quarterback for North Carolina in 2015, Mitchell Trubisky completed 40 of 47 attempts for 555 yards and six touchdowns. In other words, in limited duty the then-sophomore had just one more incompletion than scoring strike. Not too bad.
So expectations were pretty high entering last fall, his first in the starting lineup. And he met those head on: Trubisky had 30 touchdown passes before becoming the No. 2 overall pick in the recent NFL draft.
Who’s the next first-year starter at his respective program on the Power Five ranks to have a Trubisky-like rise from the backup job to the top of the Football Bowl Subdivision rankings? This week’s top-10 list attempts to answer the question.
1. JARRETT STIDHAM, AUBURN Formerly at Baylor, Stidham will take the reins at Auburn and almost certainly flourish in Gus Malzahn’s system. Big arm? Running ability? Overall athleticism? Familiarity and comfort in the system? He checks all the boxes.
2. NIC SHIMONEK, TEXAS TECH Shimonek moves into the starting role after spelling Patrick Mahomes for two early-season games in 2016. In one, a laugher against Kansas, Shimonek completed 15 of 21 attempts for 271 yards and four scores — all in the second half. He’ll be the next Kliff Kingsbury-coached quarterback to shine in the Red Raiders system.
3. TANNER LEE, NEBRASKA He’s a first-year starter at Nebraska but not an inexperienced option: Lee started for two years at Tulane before transferring before last season. Tommy Armstrong was a gutsy, agile and fairly productive contributor for the Cornhuskers, but Lee represents a dramatic upgrade for Mike Riley. He will allow the offensive staff to implement its desired scheme.
4. WILL GRIER, WEST VIRGINIA The former Florida transfer will assume the top spot from Skyler Howard, who had a solid final season, and should quickly have a hugely positive impact on the Mountaineers passing game. Early returns on Grier’s ability to run Dana Holgorsen’s system have been outstanding.
5. MAX BROWNE, PITTSBURGH Browne was the starter at Southern California until Sam Darnold came along, forcing Browne to find another starting job. That experience will clearly come in handy as he takes the reins for Pat Narduzzi and the Panthers. After all, it’s not like losing the job to Darnold was a statement about Browne’s ability. How many FBS quarterbacks wouldn’t have been leapfrogged by the sophomore?
6. BRANDON WIMBUSH, NOTRE DAME To say Wimbush is the starter by default is somewhat true, technically speaking; he slid into the job after last year’s starter, DeShone Kizer, decided to enter the NFL draft as a redshirt sophomore. But that shouldn’t cloud the fact that Wimbush has every skill needed to be a hit for the Irish in 2017.
7. SHEA PATTERSON, MISSISSIPPI The former five-star recruit takes control after throwing six touchdown passes across three games behind Chad Kelly in 2016. What should the Rebels expect? Moments of brilliance balanced by typical first-year-starter mistakes, as with any young quarterback in the Southeastern Conference. But the ceiling is ridiculously high.
8. BLAKE BARNETT, ARIZONA STATE Barnett saw the writing on the wall at Alabama once then-freshman Jalen Hurts was named the Crimson Tide’s starter last August. Barnett quickly made the recruiting rounds before landing at Arizona State, and, thanks to an NCAA ruling on his eligibility, will be able to begin the season as the Sun Devils’ answer under center.
9. KELLEN MOND, TEXAS A&M Mond could be Kevin Sumlin’s starter as a freshman — or, then again, he could play backup to one of the Aggies’ returning contributors, namely Jake Hubenak, or be redshirted. It’s not a crowded room of options for Sumlin and his staff, meaning Mond’s athleticism and upside could make him the pick come August and September. But is that a good thing for A&M? Maybe in the long run.
10. NORTH CAROLINA’S NEXT QB Could the next Trubisky reside in Chapel Hill? Maybe not in his replacement’s future draft status — here’s guessing Larry Fedora’s next pupil won’t go second overall — but in terms of production? That’s logical. If only we knew who it was. As of now, North Carolina is looking at as many as four options to replace Trubisky, including last year’s backup, Nathan Elliott, and incoming LSU transfer Brandon Harris.