Replacing some of college football’s top quarterbacks will be one of most heavily talked about topics headed into spring football and the fall 2021 season.
While Alabama’s and Clemson’s new starting signal-callers will garner the majority of national attention, several other programs will be breaking in starting quarterbacks who were once highly decorated ESPN 300 prospects.
Ohio State might have the most heated competition, with a trio of quarterbacks on campus who ranked among the top 25 at their position coming out of high school. In the Lone Star State, Jimbo Fisher will be breaking in a former highly recruited signal-caller, but it may be Steve Sarkisian’s decision in Austin between two former Under Armour All-Americans that draws the most attention with Sarkisian’s high-powered offense.
We break down how college football’s top programs will replace their top quarterbacks next season.
Clemson Tigers
2020 QB: Trevor Lawrence
Potential 2021 starting QB: D.J. Uiagalelei (No. 43 overall, No. 1 pocket passer in the 2020 class)
Although it was a small sample size in 2020, it was an impressive one. Uiagalelei exceeded expectations in his two starts against Notre Dame and Boston College, as well as spot duty against Pittsburgh and Syracuse, completing 66% of his passes for five touchdowns and zero interceptions. As a result, expectations are at an all-time high in 2021 for Clemson to find its way back into the College Football Playoff.
However, while Uiagalelei is an impressive talent, the Tigers will be breaking in some fresh faces around him. Clemson will not be overpowering on the offensive line, and the losses of Travis Etienne, Cornell Powell and Amari Rodgers leave the young quarterback with much of the weight of the offense on his shoulders because the team lacks established mainstays at the skill spots. There is talent aplenty, as wide receivers E.J. Williams, Joseph Ngata and Frank Ladson Jr. return, as well as tight end Braden Galloway.
Alabama Crimson Tide
2020 QB: Mac Jones
Potential 2021 starting QB: Bryce Young (No. 5 overall, No. 1 dual-threat QB in the 2020 class)
The good news for Young is he’ll have really good players around him in 2021. The bad news is they aren’t named DeVonta Smith or Najee Harris.
Many Alabama fans were expecting Young to walk right in the door and beat out Jones as a result of hype and a highly touted high school career. Instead, he attempted only 22 passes on the season. In reality, Young wasn’t ready, as Jones proved maturity and experience still count for something.
Young now takes the reins under a new offensive coordinator in Bill O’Brien and with huge expectations to perform. Young will bring more of a dynamic look to the offense, as his dynamic playmaking abilities will force defenses to have to account for his legs, not just his arm. A wealth of proven weapons return around Young, which should speed up his development and increase his confidence.
Ohio State Buckeyes
2020 QB: Justin Fields
Potential 2021 starting QBs: C.J. Stroud (No. 104 overall, No. 2 pocket passer in the 2020 class), Jack Miller (No. 284 overall, No. 16 pocket passer in the 2020 class), Kyle McCord (No. 31 overall, No. 5 pocket passer in the 2021 class)
This is sure to be one of the most-talked-about quarterback battles this offseason, as the Buckeyes didn’t have a clear-cut No. 2 to Fields last season. All three prospects are dropback passers as opposed to dynamic dual-threats like Fields, so Ryan Day’s offense might have a slightly different look in 2021.
Miller opened 2020 as the No. 2, but as the season went on, it appeared Stroud moved up the depth chart and saw more action. However, neither Miller nor Stroud attempted a pass in 2020. Adding McCord to the mix increases the overall talent of the group, but experience is the chief concern for the Buckeyes.
None of the three passers will be able to make up for mistakes in the passing game with big plays on the ground, as we likely won’t be seeing either of them improvise plays like Fields was able to. Stroud is the best athlete of the three. The good news? Ohio State’s skill positions are loaded with proven talent.
Texas A&M Aggies
2020 QB: Kellen Mond
Potential 2021 starting QBs: Zach Calzada (four stars, No. 16 pocket passer in the 2019 class), Haynes King (No. 46 overall, No. 3 dual-threat in the 2020 class)
Replacing a four-year starter is never easy. It is especially difficult when the offense requires the quarterback to process a lot of information within the scheme. Jimbo Fisher asks a lot of his quarterback pre- and post-snap, so losing Mond is bound to take its toll on the offense’s production.
Both Calzada and King are physically gifted, but whichever quarterback proves he can operate the offense and limit mistakes will end up being the starter regardless of how strong his arms are or who is the best athlete.
Calzada has a monster arm and will be able to make all the throws with ease. King is the better athlete and is more dynamic, so he can add a dimension compared to the previous four years. The Aggies broke in a lot of young, talented skill players, so there should be familiarity and comfort for both competitors.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
2020 QB: Ian Book
Potential 2021 starting QBs: Jack Coan (three stars, No. 29 pocket passer in the 2017 class), Brendon Clark (three stars, No. 20 dual-threat in the 2019 class), Drew Pyne (No. 221 overall, No. 13 pocket passer in the 2020 class), Tyler Buchner (No. 41 overall, No. 8 pocket passer in the 2021 class)
Much like Ohio State’s quarterback situation, Notre Dame finds itself with a lot of options to replace its starter next year. There are four legitimate options, but while Buchner is an exciting incoming freshman and can be a difference-maker, he is not the leader to be under center come the fall.
That has to be the Wisconsin grad transfer Coan, who comes in after getting Wally Pipped by Graham Mertz. He completed 70% of his passes at Wisconsin, and while he isn’t the athlete Book was, he may provide more in the vertical passing game, and his experience trumps everyone else’s in the room.
Clark is probably the best passer with the most arm strength, but he has been hampered by a lingering knee issue that has hindered his development, which likely led Notre Dame to hit the transfer portal for Coan. Pyne most resembles Book’s skill set, having served as the Irish’s No. 2 quarterback down the stretch last year. He’s undersized but has some skill as a passer with good feet, a solid feel for the game and a high ceiling.
As for Buchner, he is likely the future. He’s physically capable of playing right away, but as with all freshmen, the learning curve can be steep. How quickly he adapts and proves he’s capable of making the jump will determine whether he’s in the mix or not. Notre Dame can work around a lack of a strong incumbent with a strong run game.
Florida Gators
2020 QB: Kyle Trask
Potential 2021 starting QB: Emory Jones (No. 59 overall, No. 5 dual-threat in the 2018 class)
In this transfer portal climate, Jones deserves a lot of credit for sticking around and developing behind Trask the past two years. As a result, he’s going to benefit greatly, as he has been able to play in spot duty and certain packages.
While his stats are not eye-popping, he learned how to become a quarterback who is an athlete and not an athlete playing quarterback, which in many ways is what he was coming out of high school.
Of all the quarterbacks on this list, Jones is going to have the least amount of experience around him. The Gators lost a ton of production on offense. Gone are tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receivers Kadarius Toney and Trevon Grimes.
It’s going to be interesting to see what type of wrinkles Dan Mullen comes up with to use Jones’ mobility. Defenses are now going to constantly have to defend the quarterback run, which could open up the passing game for Jones to flourish. Jones probably isn’t the passer Trask was — at least not yet. However, as a full-time starter, he could make Florida’s offense more difficult to defend.
Texas Longhorns
2020 QB: Sam Ehlinger
Potential 2021 starting QBs: Casey Thompson (No. 221 overall, No. 11 dual-threat in the 2018 class), Hudson Card (No. 40 overall, No. 2 dual-threat in the 2020 class)
Replacing Ehlinger’s production isn’t going to happen overnight, but both Thompson and Card have a much higher ceiling for development than Ehlinger did while in Austin.
All indications are that Thompson, who served as the backup the past two years and is fresh off a four-touchdown performance in the Alamo Bowl, will succeed Ehlinger. However, with new coach Steve Sarkisian and a new offense, everyone is starting from scratch, so expect the competition to be wide-open.
Thompson and Card are good athletes and will add a dynamic to the scheme. Frankly, Thompson’s experience and age are what give him the nod early on. While Ehlinger was a sufficient, effective starter, he didn’t have the potential that Thompson and Card have.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say Sarkisian would be fine with either of the two quarterbacks. The real question: How quickly can Texas get the necessary weapons around them to even come close to resembling what Alabama had in 2020?