The football season continues to creep closer, with quarterback battles still going on at several major programs. Some of the members of the Class of 2017 are in the mix to play as true freshman and perhaps even open the season under center for their schools. As part of Rivals QB Week, we take a look at five freshmen who have a good chance of seeing the field at some point for their teams this fall.
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The former five-star is involved in a competition with junior Kelly Bryant and while it looks like Bryant has the edge, Dabo Swinney has shown in the past that he’s not afraid to have a veteran start the year and then go with a younger player down the road. Johnson’s arm strength has already drawn praise from the Tigers coaches and it will be interesting to see how things shake out by the time opening week rolls around.
Another former five-star engaged in a battle with established players, Mond is vying for playing time against redshirt freshman Nick Starkel and well-traveled veteran Jake Hubenak. Even if he doesn’t win the starting job outright, Mond showed last year at IMG that he’s capable of coming in and picking up first down in short yardage situations as a runner and with his talent it’s unlikely he won’t be a part of the Aggies’ plans this fall.
The former four-star prospect stayed close to home at Maryland and has drawn rave reviews from the Terps coaches since arriving on campus. Hill is part of a four-quarterback battle, with North Carolina transfer Caleb Henderson and sophomores Ty Pigrome and Max Bortenschlager also in the mix. Pigrome showed impressive flashes last year and might have the edge for the job, but Maryland played multiple quarterbacks in 2016 and if none of the quartet seizes control of the job, it’s tough to see Hill redshirting.
Part of another quarterback competition, Garbers is hoping to outplay veterans Chase Forest and Ross Bowers. One thing working in Garbers favor is that the staff in Berkeley is new and neither of the two older quarterbacks threw a pass last season, so he has just as good of a chance of winning the job. Cal offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin, Eastern Washington’s former head coach, is known for high-powered offenses that are centered around playmakers at the quarterback position.
Could Ehlinger really unseat Shane Buechele just a year after he turned heads as a freshman in 2016? That’s what new Longhorns coach Tom Herman has been saying since arriving in Austin. Most indications are that Buechele has the edge in the competition, but the fact that Herman hasn’t named an outright starter means that Ehlinger is at least giving him something to thing about it. Depending on how things go in the fall, Ehlinger could see action before the season is over even if he doesn’t win the job out of camp.
