The Hotline has printed biannual Quarterback Consolation Quotient (QBCQ) rankings for years. By no means has there been a greater instance of the method than what we witnessed in Salt Lake Metropolis within the fall of 2021.
Utah was No. 1 in our QBCQ rankings previous to the season as a result of the Utes possessed not solely a confirmed starter but in addition a succesful backup.
Admittedly, we didn’t count on the starter, Charlie Brewer, to stumble and the backup, Cameron Rising, to guide the Utes to the convention title. However the scenario proved precisely why having two succesful quarterbacks is important.
Whether or not it’s due to damage or substandard play, the starter is unlikely to take each significant snap. Groups with high quality Plan Bs are finest outfitted to navigate the season.
Welcome to the primary Pac-12 QBCQ rankings of 2022, and please observe:
— We’ll publish a revised model after spring follow. (The rankings will assuredly change.)
— Roster projections are tentative.
— Earlier college is famous for gamers who've transferred in 2021-22.
1. UCLA
Projected starter: Dorian Thompson-Robinson
Projected backups: Ethan Garbers, Chase Griffin
Remark: No workforce is best positioned to navigate QB potholes than the Bruins, who possess among the best starters within the convention and a more-than-capable backup. Garbers will assuredly journey the bench so long as Thompson-Robinson stays wholesome, however he’s a starting-caliber expertise who carried out admirably within the crucible of Rice-Eccles Stadium throughout his lone begin final season. In actual fact, UCLA goes three deep with competence: Griffin almost received in Autzen Stadium in 2020.
2. USC
Projected starter: Caleb Williams (from Oklahoma)
Projected backup: Miller Moss
Remark: The Trojans enter 2022 with one of the vital gifted quarterbacks within the land. Williams not solely tossed 21 touchdowns in his first and solely season at Oklahoma, he rushed for six touchdowns and greater than 400 yards. If he’s injured, it may get dicey. Moss was a four-star recruit who had quite a few high-level scholarship presents, however he performed in a single sport — the season finale — and tried simply 13 passes. Nonetheless, the redshirt freshman is a greater Plan B than exists at many faculties.
3. Utah
Projected starter: Cameron Rising
Projected backups: Ja’Quinden Jackson, Bryson Barnes
Remark: We’re hesitant to position a lot inventory in a single efficiency … except it’s the ultimate 10 minutes of the Rose Bowl towards Ohio State. Barnes’ poise and effectivity instead of the injured Rising in the course of the tense end would recommend the Utes have a stable backup plan. And Jackson, whose profession started at Texas, may present a second possibility. And Rising, after all, is without doubt one of the league’s finest starters. The Utes are well-stocked all over the place in 2022, together with the quarterback spot.
4. Arizona
Projected starter: Jayden de Laura (from Washington State)
Projected backups: Jordan McCloud, Will Plummer, Gunner Cruz
Remark: The Wildcats have been an entire mess final season however enter ’22 with depth that the majority different groups would love. De Laura performed at an all-conference degree for the Cougars and may make a clean adjustment to Arizona’s system, whereas McCloud stands as one of many prime backups within the convention. He was simply getting comfy — and offering Arizona with a viable possibility — when he suffered a season-ending leg damage.
5. Oregon State
Projected starter: Probability Nolan
Projected backups: Tristan Gebbia, Ben Gulbranson
Remark: Like Utah and Stanford, the Beavers’ projected starter for subsequent season was not the starter for the ’21 opener. Nolan made essentially the most of his alternative instead of Sam Noyer and has a reasonably agency deal with on the job. We wouldn’t be stunned if coach Jonathan Smith dips into the switch portal after spring follow, however OSU will more than likely enter the autumn with the three talked about above — a stable lineup provided that Gebbia was the 2020 starter earlier than struggling a critical leg damage.
6. Oregon
Projected starter: Bo Nix (from Auburn)
Projected backups: Ty Thompson, Jay Butterfield
Remark: Some of the attention-grabbing competitions within the convention will unfold in Eugene, the place a multi-year SEC starter duels with a touted former recruit, Thompson, who’s in his second 12 months in this system however his first with the present teaching employees. It’s a fragile scenario for brand new coach Dan Lanning due to the potential for Thompson to switch if he doesn’t win the job. And it’s not like Nix was been a mannequin of consistency at Auburn. Anticipate Lanning to let the competitors play out till the final minute, if potential.
7. Washington
Projected starter: Michael Penix Jr. (from Indiana)
Projected backups: Sam Huard, Dylan Morris
Remark: Good likelihood the UW depth chart adjustments by the late spring, with Morris probably on his approach out of this system if it turns into clear that Penix is the frontrunner. (We consider Huard will keep and probably embrace the prospect to play the backup position in ’22.) Provided that Penix labored with coach Kalen DeBoer at Indiana, the scheme ought to go well with his abilities. Nonetheless, his historical past of accidents provides us pause. It’s straightforward to see Morris leaving, Penix getting injured and Huard as the one possibility one 12 months earlier than he’s actually prepared.
8. Stanford
Projected starter: Tanner McKee
Projected backups: Ari Patu, Jack West
Remark: We mission McKee as one of many prime two or three quarterbacks within the convention subsequent season, if he manages to remain wholesome with a skinny body and mediocre line. The difficulty for Stanford is what lies behind McKee. West was ineffective as each a starter and reserve, whereas Patu tried simply 16 passes in his rookie season. The Cardinal is a traditional QBCQ scenario: No worries in any respect in regards to the state of its quarterback play, except there’s motive for panic.
9. Arizona State
Projected starter: Jayden Daniels
Projected backups: Trenton Bourget, Paul Tyson (from Alabama)
Remark: Tyson is a former four-star recruit who threw 16 passes in a reserve position for the Crimson Tide final season. He’ll be a part of Bourget, who's coming into his fourth 12 months in this system, to offer choices in case Daniels is injured. Our lukewarm evaluation of ASU’s quarterback room additionally displays Daniels’ stagnation. In his third season because the starter, he threw 10 interceptions and appeared much less comfy within the pocket than he did as a freshman.
10. Washington State
Projected starter: Cam Ward (from Incarnate Phrase)
Projected backups: Victor Gabalis, Xavier Ward
Remark: Fascinating scenario in Pullman, the place the Cougars misplaced a high-level quarterback to an intra-conference switch however is perhaps higher off for the commerce (a win-win for each WSU and Arizona). Ward spent the previous two seasons operating the system at Incarnate Phrase (beneath former coach Eric Morris) that shall be employed by WSU (beneath new offensive coordinator Eric Morris). That stated, the transfer to Ward carries a point of uncertainty. And behind him, solely unproven choices exist.
11. Cal
Projected starter: Jack Plummer (from Purdue)
Projected backups: Kai Millner, Ryan Glover, Zach Johnson
Remark: If it’s potential for a quarterback room to be higher than initially anticipated whereas additionally filled with uncertainty, Cal hit the mark. Plummer’s arrival as a grad switch with two years of eligibility remaining offers a veteran possibility to switch Chase Garbers. However his mediocre success at Purdue — he was benched halfway via the ’21 season — is motive for skepticism in regards to the general high quality of play. His competitors ought to come from Millner, who didn't take a snap final fall.
12. Colorado
Projected starter: Brendon Lewis
Projected backups: J.T. Shrout, Maddox Kopp (from Houston), Owen McCown
Remark: The variety of choices listed displays the intense uncertainty CU faces. Lewis was erratic in 2021, his first 12 months as a starter. Shrout may need been an in a position substitute however missed the 12 months with a knee damage. Kopp arrives from Houston with no expertise, whereas McCown, the son of NFL quarterback Josh McCown, was a three-star recruit. No depth chart within the convention has better potential for substantive change over the following six months. The state of the Buffaloes’ QB room on Sept. 1 is anybody’s guess.
Beforehand:
— My early top-25 rankings for the 2022 season
— Counter-programming: 12 causes to get excited in regards to the Pac-12 this 12 months
— The highest storylines for the 2022 Pac-12 soccer season
— Projections for the North and South division races
— Rating the 2022 non-conference schedules
— Teaching Sizzling Seat evaluation
— Switch portal winners and losers
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