Stallion wrote:I think Rafe Peavey will probably be the guy to emerge in the Spring but if he doesn't or is injured I could see a scenario of Brewer running the offense better than Hicks or Gillens during the Spring and playing as a freshman just as Buechele out-played 2 Senior experienced QBs at Texas. I don't anticipate it-hope we can redshirt Brewer but I'm confident he could do it. As Hank Carter said yesterday-when he took over for Morris they didn't change much
Buchele out played two QBs who had a history of being AWFUL at UT. It is a little different situation. Hicks, for all his flaws, showed more this Fall then either of the UT QBs ever showed.
In October, HIcks has a 50% completion percentage, 2 TDs, 7 picks, and a 101.7 efficiency.
In September, 53.2, 7-4, 120
In November, 62.3, 8-4, 139. Significant improvement.
I'll also point out that while Buchele's stats overall were better than Hicks because he got out to a fast start, eventually teams figured out he couldn't go throw progressions, that everything he did was based on a pre-snap read, and as a result he really struggled at the end of the season.
November: 54.9, 4-5, 108.9
You don't want to go and risk your make or break year on a true freshman QB.
I agree that Morris is going to play the best player. I'll also suggest that Morris absolutely wants to name the starting QB for the fall coming out of spring practice.
He will start out the spring letting everyone throw - Hicks, Peavey, Gillens, Brewer, Colbert. After the first week, he will narrow it down to 3, and the last week will be the top two getting the majority of snaps. Last year the reason we had 3 still throwing at the end of spring was because none of the QBs looked that great. Matt got the time with the 1's and Colbert and HIcks split reps with the second team.
I think there is probably a 95% chance of both Hicks and Peavey surviving the first week of competition. The third slot I would put Gillens at 70% odds just because he has experience on a college campus.
Please don't mistake this for me saying that Hicks was the great QB I have seen or that I doubt Brewer's talent. I just think the odds are long for him to be the starting QB on this team heading out of Spring or heading out of the Fall. Everything is riding on our performance next fall, and 1) the only way that gets handed to a frosh is if he is Joe Montana or your current crew sucks and 2) I think we have enough good QBs to justify a redshirt.