2010 was a good year for freshman quarterbacks. David Piland took over for an injured Case Keenum, Tyler Bray showed flashes of a future All-SEC candidate and Jeffrey Godfrey ran wild at Central Florida.
Will 2011 have the same results? Let's find out.
Top Five to Watch
Bubba Starling, Nebraska - Besides having a killer first name, he's one of those rare athletes that can be a true difference maker. He's 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, but runs like a guy half his size. He's got room to grow into his frame, which will give him the ability to withstand the pounding. He also has a strong enough arm to develop into a passing threat. However, there is one problem. He may never play a down of college football. Bubba is also a top baseball prospect which could net him millions after the MLB draft this June.
Zach Mettenberger, LSU - Mettenberger and Cam Newton have been mentioned in the same breath quite a bit lately. Both formerly played for another SEC school. Both have a checkered past that led them to the JUCO route. Both stand over 6-feet-5. Both quarterbacked their teams in the NJCAA Football Championship game. However, the similarities end there. Newton won the long-winded aforementioned game. Mettenberger is a pocket passer and has a year less of BCS-level experience than Newton. Still, quarterback play hasn't been LSU's strength of late and Mettenberger will get a crack at the starting job.
Brett Hundley, UCLA - Kevin "Questionable" Prince may be out this spring and Richard Brehaut will be splitting time between football and baseball. Hundley will have the opportunity for meaningful reps during spring practice. Don't be surprised to see Hundley take over the starting job this fall.
Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville - Adam Froman and Justin Burke graduate. Will Stein returns, but he'll be pushed by the athletic Bridgewater this spring. With running back Bilal Powell also moving on, there will be even more pressure to get a playmaker like Bridgewater on the field early.
Braxton Miller, Ohio State - With Terrelle Pryor suspended for the first five games of the season, we could see the young fella a little earlier than originally planned. At worst he'll get a head start on 2012 with some reps this spring. On a side note this has to be the oddest music to ever set to a highlight video.
Best of the Rest
Kiehl Frazier, Auburn - Who replaces Cam Newton?
Jeff Driskel & Jacoby Brissett Florida - Shocker, the Gators sign another pair of top quarterbacks. John Brantley threw nine touchdowns last season.
Brent Burnette, Colorado (JC) - Change in coaching staff usually means a change at quarterback.
Tony McNeal & Cole Staudt, Clemson - We could be seeing a youth movement at Clemson.
Brock Berglund, Kansas - Quick, name the Jayhawks' starting quarterback.
DaMarcus Smith, UCF - Big fish, little pond.
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M - The next Ryan Tannehill?
Dominic Merka, TCU - Andy Dalton was a four-year starter....though he did redshirt his first year.
Cody Kessler & Max Wittek, USC - I doubt Matt Barkley will stick around to see the Trojans become bowl eligible.