Mark Pszonak contributed to this report.
With Signing Day in the rearview mirror and our national rankings shut down, we thought it would be fun to compare the top players at their position in 2016 to the top players at their position in 2017. We call it One versus One and today we look at the quarterbacks.
RELATED: National Signing Day Big Ten wrap-up
DUAL-THREAT QUARTERBACKS - Shea Patterson ('16) vs. Kellen Mond ('17)
The skinny: Patterson originally committed to Arizona as a true freshman, before re-opening his recruitment during the summer of 2014. He then committed to Ole Miss in early 2015, which led to his early enrollment with the Rebels. Patterson was likely to redshirt in 2016, but a knee injury to Chad Kelly forced him into the starting lineup. Starting the final three games of the season, Patterson passed for 880 yards and six touchdowns, while throwing three interceptions. Mond was originally committed to Baylor but de-committed following the Title IX scandal and ended up committed to Texas A&M.
Farrell’s take: This is a tough call between two former IMG quarterbacks because I was obviously high on both of them. Mond broke many of Patterson’s records just a year later and is a great fit at Texas A&M but Patterson has already shown some of his awesome potential as a true freshman. In this one I’d have to take the guy with the slightly higher “it” factor, although Mond can have a more successful run with more talent surrounding him at A&M
Farrell’s verdict: Patterson
PRO-STYLE QUARTERBACK: Jacob Eason ('16) vs. Davis Mills ('17)
The skinny: Eason committed to Georgia during the summer leading up to his senior season, but the firing of Mark Richt opened the door for several programs, which resulted in visits to Miami, Washington, Washington State and Florida. However, an official visit back to Athens in sealed the deal for Eason as he stuck with his word and enrolled for the spring semester. Eason replaced Greyson Lambert in the Bulldogs' opener, and while having some ups and downs, finished with 2,430 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Mills committed to Stanford over offers from numerous programs.
Farrell’s take: One is playing at Georgia and the other is leaving the state of Georgia to play in the Pac-12. As much as Eason has shown flashes at UGA and while he was higher ranked nationally in 2016 than Mills was in 2017, I have a feeling about Mills and that fit at Stanford. He could be the next Andrew Luck.
Farrell’s verdict: Mills
