Pick Your Poison: Sam Howell vs. Spencer Rattler
Player vs. player comparisons are always fun to debate and in Pick Your Poison, I take two of the top players in the country at the same position, make a case for both and determine the winner.
Here's Sam Howell from North Carolina vs. Spencer Rattler from Oklahoma.
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The Case For Sam Howell
Howell has put up monster numbers since day one at UNC, setting ACC freshman QB records and following that with a great sophomore season. Howell completed 61 percent of his passes as a true freshman with 38 touchdowns and only seven picks. He followed that by upping his completion percentage to 68 percent and throwing for 30 touchdowns and only seven picks in an all-ACC shortened season.
Howell doesn't run much but still had five touchdowns on the ground last season as well. He's thrown for more than 7,000 yards in two seasons. He's not the tallest quarterback or most athletic but he has a very strong arm. His accuracy and feel in the pocket is impressive.
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The Case For Spencer Rattler
Rattler waited his turn at OU behind Jalen Hurts in 2019 and broke out last season in his first year as a starter. He completed 67 percent of his passes and threw for 28 touchdowns and seven picks.
He's not a runner either but ran for six touchdowns last season as well. He threw for 3,112 yards and improved as the season wore on. He is the Heisman favorite for next season in the eyes of many.
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The Winner
I'm giving the nod to Howell here when it comes to being a college quarterback and that's what this is about. I expect Rattler to take the next step and put up monster numbers at OU, but Howell has the experience and a bit more savvy looking downfield at this point.
Rattler is taller and longer and has a great arm and could be the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft next year. But give me Howell in a close one.