Better know a Pac-12 QB

[sendacash]

The Pac-12 blog over on ESPN is doing a rundown of the 10 returning starting QBs this season in the Pac-12. This is most likely the best group of QBs from any conference hands down. I did not realize that Kevin Hogan is 10-1 against ranked teams.

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Kevin Hogan

School: Stanford

Grade: Senior

2013 passing stats: 180-295-61%-2,630-20-10-72.3 (Raw QBR)- 80.5 (Adj. QBR)

[+] Enlarge Tommy LaPorte/Icon SportswireStanford's Kevin Hogan, who has an impressive mark against ranked teams, would be among the leaders in passing efficiency in most any conference.


Career passing stats: 289-447-64.7%-3,726-29-13-70.6 (Raw QBR)-79.8 (Adj. QBR)

2013 rushing stats: 84-355-2

Career rushing stats: 139-618-4

Hogan on Twitter

What you need to know about Hogan: Hogan was fortunate enough not to be the guy replacing Andrew Luck. Rather, he was the guy who replaced the guy who replaced Andrew Luck. With that came a little less pressure and a little less scrutiny. Despite a 7-2 record to start 2012, the coaching staff felt like they weren't getting enough out of Josh Nunes, who was inconsistent, to say the least, throughout his tenure as the starter. Hogan had a couple of reps throughout the season, but saw his first extended playing time in the ninth game of the season against Colorado before taking the reins against Oregon State. He's started every game since, appearing in 23 over the past two seasons.

Career high point: We don't want to say Hogan peaked too soon, because the Pac-12 blog believes Hogan is in for a solid 2014. But it's hard to top winning at Autzen, as he did in his first career road start in 2012. After replacing the embattled Nunes, Hogan had just one start under his belt -- a home victory against the Beavers -- before heading up to Eugene and knocking off No. 1 Oregon. He rushed for a touchdown and threw for another in the 17-14 overtime win. He's had big wins since -- another win over Oregon in 2013, a Rose Bowl victory in 2012 etc. But that was the game that "launched" him as Stanford's leader.

Career low point: When you read what an opposing coach had to say about Hogan (below), the first game that should pop into your mind is USC in 2013. The Cardinal were coming off a major 26-20 win at home over Oregon and then nine days later Hogan tossed a pair of interceptions with zero touchdowns in the 20-17 loss to the Trojans. He was just 14 of 25 for 127 yards and both picks came in the fourth quarter with the score tied 17-17, including one in the red zone. Sure, there were drops from the receivers. But quarterbacks always take the bulk of the scrutiny. And Hogan's decision-making in that game drew plenty of it.

When he was a recruit: Stanford beat out Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Virginia for Hogan, who committed to the Cardinal during the summer before his senior season. A three-star prospect and the No. 51 quarterback in the country, Hogan was not quite as highly regarded as fellow 2011 Cardinal signee Evan Crower, the nation's No. 38 signal-caller and the quarterback Hogan eventually beat for the starting job at Stanford after Luck's departure. While he hasn't exactly been Luck, the results for Stanford have been positive.

Opposing head coach's take: "He gets a lot of attention for being an efficient quarterback. Which he is. You have to be when you run that system. But he's also a bit of a cowboy sometimes and will go off the reservation probably more than that coaching staff would like. He can improvise, and when it works, it's great. When it doesn't, it's not. I think his ability to keep plays alive with his feet gives you an extra element you have to prepare for. Aside from the traditional power, they'll work in some option and he can make plays with his legs."

What to expect in 2014: What caught the eye of the coaching staff in 2012 was Hogan's ability to run the football. There were designated "Hogan packages" throughout the season leading up to him starting. They like that he can pick up first downs and teams have to account for him as a runner. As a passer, he didn't make the strides the coaches were hoping for in 2013. Part of that had to do with adjusting to a passing attack that was more wide-receiver centric after being spoiled with tight ends. While we expect to see more tight end packages from Stanford this year, Hogan still has a bona fide playmaker in Ty Montgomery. They'd like to see that completion percentage up from 61 percent last year and better decision-making. But the most important number is wins. And when it comes to that, Hogan delivers. He's 16-3 as a starter and 10-1 against ranked teams. If that trend continues, the Cardinal could be in line for a third-straight conference title.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

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[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Taylor Kelly[/h] August, 18, 2014 Aug 18
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By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Taylor Kelly

School: Arizona State

[+] Enlarge Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesTaylor Kelly's skill set meshes well with what offensive coordinator Mike Norvell likes to do on offense.


Grade: Senior

2013 passing stats: 302-of-484, 62.4 percent, 3,635 yards, 28 TDs, 12 INTs, 64.1 (Raw QBR), 74.9 (Adj. QBR)

Career passing stats: 547-of-847, 64.6 percent, 6,705 yards, 57 TDs, 21 INTs, 63.9 (Raw QBR), 72.6 (Adj. QBR)

2013 rushing stats: 173 carries, 608 yards, 9 TDs

Career rushing stats: 308 carries, 1,148 yards, 10 TDs

Kelly on Twitter

What you need to know about Kelly: Buried at third on the depth chart when Todd Graham arrived on campus, Kelly surprised many when he played his way into the starting lineup after a phenomenal 2012 spring session, outperforming Michael Eubank and Mike Bercovici. The move was met with raised eyebrows, but has turned out to be a major boost for the program as Kelly emerged into one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league. He’s the perfect fit for what offensive coordinator Mike Norvell likes to run. He can dink and dunk with the best of them, but his touch and accuracy were on display in 2013 when he and receiver Jaelen Strong (also returning) perfected the back-shoulder pass which has become a staple of the offense. Don’t forget, it was Kelly who was second-team all-conference last year, not Brett Hundley or Sean Mannion.

Career high point: Kelly was the model of efficiency in ASU’s 38-33 win over UCLA at the Rose Bowl last season, completing 20 of 27 passes for 225 yards and one touchdown. He also led the Sun Devils with 99 rushing yards (on 22 carries) and a score as ASU locked up the South Division with the victory. The win also avenged a loss the year before in Tempe. While Kelly has had better statistical games, this one carried the Sun Devils to the South title and had the most gravitas in the Pac-12 power rankings.

Career low point: If you're only as good as your last game, Kelly will be the first to say he's got a lot of work to do. In last year's Holiday Bowl -- a 37-23 loss to Texas Tech -- Kelly completed just 16 of 29 passes with no touchdowns and an interception. Though he did rush for 135 yards and a touchdown, it was the worst game of his career in terms of pass efficiency. The heavily favored Sun Devils looked sluggish on offense and Kelly shouldered a lot of that blame. There were a lot of circumstances to consider: Texas Tech had been hearing for two weeks that they would get slaughtered, there might have been a hangover from the Pac-12 title game, etc. Whatever. The Sun Devils were bad.

When he was a recruit: Despite being named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Idaho during his senior season, Kelly was something of an afterthought in the 2010 recruiting class. A 6-foot-2, 175-pound dual-threat quarterback out of Eagle High School, Kelly received an offer from Nevada -- his only offer throughout much of the recruiting process -- and committed to the Wolf Pack during the summer before his senior season. That's likely where he'd be now, had Pete Thomas not pulled away from his commitment to Arizona State and pledged to Colorado State, forcing the Sun Devils to scramble for a quarterback late in the game. Kelly took an official visit to Arizona State in mid-January and committed to the Sun Devils immediately after. The fit was perfect for Kelly, who fashioned himself after Jake Plummer, another former Idaho prep standout who just happened to become a star quarterback at Arizona State.

Opposing head coach's take: "He's a bit of a magician. He throws it well enough. He runs it well enough. He's not the biggest guy, but he can stand in the pocket and make big time throws. He can escape the pocket and make throws on the run. He might be as good as anyone in our conference as far as throwing the ball on the run as he escapes the pocket. But you also have to account for him as a runner ... he's one of those guys that you better account for because he can hurt you."

What to expect in 2014: More of the same, if not better. His completion percentage dropped from 67.1 in 2012 to 62.4 in 2013, but he also threw the ball more and was asked to do more. Also, he rushed for nine touchdowns last year compared to just one in 2012. With a lot of returning talent around him, Kelly has an opportunity to leave as one of ASU’s greatest quarterbacks. But his greatest asset will be his experience. He has started 27 games (tied with UCLA's Brett Hundley for most starts) and has an even firmer grasp of Norvell’s scheme. Norvell is one of the hottest assistants in the country right now, and he knows how to get the most out of Kelly in the air and on the ground.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

[Conan]

Never seen anything like this in 30+ years. But.... Marcus Mariota is in a class by himself. The closest thing to him would be Brett Hundley who I believe will show up to play another year for Mora in 2015. If that's the case, UCLA should be a playoff team... easily. Like Mariota, he has the capacity to be a one-man offense, much the way Manziel pulled it off at TAMU.

And yes, there is plenty to say about Taylor Kelly too. Now all ASU needs is a defense to reload the 9 starters they lost from last season and Todd Graham will turn heads down there. Meanwhile, Sean Mannion at OS is headed towards breaking into the top 10 statistically ranked QBs in CFB history. He should make it easily. He has the pass catchers that can help him get there.

 

[sendacash]

After witnessing what just happened to fellow QB Braxton Miller, I would be somewhat surprised if Hundley turned down the riches of the NFL by coming back for another season of college ball. We shall see, on to the next:

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Travis Wilson[/h] August, 19, 2014 Aug 19
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By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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Editor's note: Beginning Aug. 3, we're counting down the days until the college football season with a look at the 25 most interesting people in the sport.

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Travis Wilson

School: Utah

Grade: Junior

2013 passing stats: Completed 133 of 237 attempts for a 56.1 completion percentage and 1,827 yards. Threw 16 touchdowns and 16 interceptions with a raw QBR of 41.3 and an adjusted QBR of 56.1.

Career passing stats: Completed 261 of 441 attempts for a 59.2 completion percentage and 3,138 yards. Threw 23 touchdowns and 22 interceptions with a raw QBR of 41.7 and an adjusted QBR of 52.0.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 81 times for 386 yards and five touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: Rushed 145 times for 426 yards and nine touchdowns.

[+] Enlarge Steve Conner/Icon SportswireTravis Wilson spurned much of the Pac-12 when he picked Utah.


What you need to know about Wilson: He started the final seven games of the 2012 season a true freshman, leading the Utes to a 3-4 record during that stretch, and was the only Utah quarterback to appear in all 12 games. But 2013 was derailed by assorted injuries before suffering a season-ending concussion against Arizona State in November. A scan after that concussion revealed a pre-existing trauma to an intracranial artery. He was cleared to practice (non-contact) in the spring and now is full go. At 6-foot-7, 240 pounds, he’s an imposing figure. But he can run too, making him that much more difficult to prepare for. And in the event football doesn’t work out, he could find a gig in the next 300 movie. (Dang!)

Career high point: Wilson took a knee as the clocked ticked down, and despite an injury to his throwing hand, he was still able to flash a “U” toward the MUSS as they stormed the field following Utah’s 27-21 win over No. 5 Stanford last year. Wilson completed 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also added eight rushes for 35 yards. And while Utah’s season spiraled following the game, it’s still considered one of the greatest regular season victories in school history and a reminder to the league that the Utes can’t be taken lightly. Wilson was all guts in that game.

Career low point: Rewind seven days from the career high point. The Utes could have pulled off an upset a week earlier with UCLA in town. But Wilson tossed six interceptions, including his last one in the final minute inside the UCLA 15. Now, for those who remember the game, all six weren’t Wilson’s fault. There were tips and bad routes by his receivers. But in the annals of college football, it's remembered as a six-pick game. He did throw a pair of touchdowns, but was just 22 of 44 passing in what goes down as a statistical nightmare. But he obviously has a short memory since the Utes knocked off Stanford a week later.

When he was a recruit: The Utes made a statement with their first recruiting class as members of the Pac-12, walking into California and coming away with a commitment from Wilson, who also held offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA and Washington. Wilson targeted the Utes early and cited the depth chart as one of the reasons he committed to Utah, but despite his terrific size -- listed at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds as a high school senior -- it wasn't anything close to a slam dunk that the nation's No. 39 quarterback would step into the starting role midway through his true freshman season, despite some high praise in his ESPNRecruiting Nation profile. "Reminds us of Zach Mettenberger only Wilson is a much better athlete. Has a great feel in the pocket. Will rarely panic or take off too early. Flashes the arm strength to drive the ball down field. … Overall accuracy is sound and he can really get into a rhythm and get hot."

Opposing head coach’s take: "Thankfully he’ll come back and he’s healthy. I’m excited for him. He’s in that Sean Mannion mold to a certain degree. If he can play the way he did against Stanford last year on a consistent basis, you’re going to be talking about him as one of the better quarterbacks in the nation, not just the conference."

What to expect in 2014: If Wilson can stay healthy -- and hold off a fall charge from Oklahoma transfer Kendal Thompson -- he has all of the physical tools to be a very successful quarterback. Working against him is the fact he’s adjusting to his third offensive coordinator in as many years. It was Brian Johnson in 2012, a combination of Dennis Erickson and Johnson in 2013 and now Dave Christensen in 2014. Though Christensen told the Pac-12 blog in January that his offense has a lot of crossover from what the Utes have been doing the last couple of seasons. He already has familiarity and chemistry with his receivers -- including Biletnikoff watch list receiver Dres Anderson. The Utes are looking to dispatch a three-headed rushing attack that could help take some of the pressure off Wilson. The completion percentage has to rise and the picks have to drop. That’s a given. But he was forced into action early and responded fairly well. He’s won big games and lost some close ones. The potential is there for him to be the front man Utah has been lacking since joining the league.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

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[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Connor Halliday[/h] August, 19, 2014 Aug 19
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By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Connor Halliday

School: Washington State

Grade: Senior

2013 passing stats: Completed 449 of 714 pass attempts for a 62.9 completion percentage and 4,597 yards. Threw 34 touchdowns to 22 interceptions with a raw QBR of 47.8 and an adjusted QBR of 58.2.

[+] Enlarge Jesse Beals/Icon SportswireFollowing three seasons in the same offense, Connor Halliday appears primed to lead the Cougars in 2014.


Career passing stats: Completed 660 of 1,108 pass attempts for a 59.6 completion percentage and 7,435 yards. Has thrown 58 touchdowns and 39 interceptions. Has a raw QBR of 43.7 and an adjusted QBR of 51.9.

2013 rushing stats: 50 rushing attempts for minus-177 yards and zero touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: 83 rushing attempts for minus-361 yards and zero touchdowns.

Halliday on Twitter

What you need to know about Halliday: His legend started when he played through a lacerated liver against Utah in 2011. It hiccupped when he played quarterback roulette with Jeff Tuel in 2012. And while he was far from perfect in 2013, he showed that he's more than capable of leading Mike Leach's Air Raid offense. His 4,597 passing yards were a WSU single-season record and the second most in league history. His 34 touchdowns matched Ryan Leaf (1997) and he had nine multi-touchdown games. He's tough, he's a leader (voted a team captain for all 13 games) and he's got a ton of experience.

Career high point: A six touchdown performance in a losing effort? Nah, Halliday will tell you (and he has) that being named the offensive MVP of the New Mexico Bowl last year doesn't mean squat since the Cougars lost to Colorado State 48-45. However, he was sharp in WSU's 49-37 win against Utah, which gave the Cougs that critical sixth win to make them bowl eligible for the first time since 2006 and eventually sent them to a bowl game for the first time in a decade. Halliday threw for 488 yards and four touchdowns without an interception -- his only game last year without at least one pick.

Career low point: A six touchdown performance in a losing effort? Oh wait, we covered that one already. His three interceptions against Auburn in the season opener last year (to just one touchdown) wasn't exactly a standout performance. In fact, the Cougars were in position to tie the game in the fourth quarter with less than five minutes to play when Halliday was intercepted in the red zone. Granted, going to SEC country to open the season is tough. But think of how the entire college football landscape would have been different if not for an interception or two.

When he was a recruit: Halliday didn't move the needle much when it came to Washington State's 2010 recruiting class, as the 6-foot-4 quarterback was ranked No. 168 in the country at his position and was the lowest-ranked member of the class. But there was some considerable excitement surrounding Halliday's potential when Drew Bledsoe comparisons were thrown around. "Connor has a big upside," then-head coach Paul Wulff said. "Connor has the intangibles in the passing game, he is very competitive, and he has a bright future at Washington State and could play early in his career." Halliday also received offers from Eastern Washington, Hawaii, Idaho and Montana, but the decision to commit to the in-state Cougars was an easy one for him, as well as one that would play out well when Mike Leach took over as head coach. The first lines of Halliday's ESPN Recruiting Nation scouting report reads like a manual for the quarterback position on Leach's Air Raid offense: "Halliday is a pocket passer in the shotgun spread offense and is an efficient player in the short and intermediate passing game. He is a touch and timing passer with good rhythm and displays solid overall accuracy."

Opposing head coach's take: "He still has work to do to a certain degree. But any given day he can throw for 350 and five touchdowns. Any given time he can be player of the week in the conference because he can hurt you. The scheme does help to a certain degree. But the bottom line is he'll stand in there and he took a lot of hits in a lot of games. But he always pulls himself back up and gets back at it on the next play."

What to expect in 2014: Numbers. Lots of big, beautiful, eye-popping, scoreboard-light-bulb-draining numbers. This is what Leach has been waiting for -- a quarterback who has experience in his system that he's been grooming for a couple of years. Halliday knows the scheme inside and out. And he's got the talent around him to put up jaw-dropping statistics. With all of that said, there is still work to do. His completion percentage is still too low for Leach's liking (62.9 last year) and, as previously mentioned, he only had one game last season where he didn't throw an interception. Six times he had multi-interception games. It's worth noting, however, that in his final five games, his touchdown-to-interception ratio was 16-5, so the potential for improvement is there. Above all else, Leach values accuracy and decision-making. But then again, what coach doesn't when talking about his quarterback. If Halliday can clean things up, he and the Cougars will light up scoreboards.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

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[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Jared Goff[/h] August, 20, 2014 Aug 20
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By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Jared Goff

School: California

Grade: Sophomore

[+] Enlarge Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SportsSophomore Jared Goff showed his potential last season, throwing for over 3,500 yards and 18 TDs.


2013 passing stats: Completed 320 of 531 pass attempts for a 60.3 completion percentage and 3,508 yards. Threw 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with a raw QBR of 48.0 and an adjusted QBR of 53.5.

Career passing stats: Same as above.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 59 times for minus-62 yards with one touchdown.

Career rushing stats: Same as above.

Goff on Twitter (Though his last Tweet was 'see you in January,' so maybe follow now and Tweet @ later).

What you need to know about Goff: Goff entered the program already locked in a three-way competition with Zach Kline (who has since transferred) and Austin Hinder. He won the job for the plain and simple reason that he was the most consistent. Goff put up monster numbers for a true freshman, breaking single-season marks for yards, completions and attempts. In the first half of his season, he saw No. 22 Northwestern, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 2 Oregon and No. 11 UCLA. That’s as tough a slate as you’ll see as a quarterback, let alone for a true freshman. Despite his record as a starter, Goff is full of talent and potential.

Career high point: For a team that failed to beat an FBS team last season, there aren’t many. Despite massive defensive injuries, Goff (one of just four Cal players to start all 12 games last year) shouldered a lot of the blame -- as any good quarterback does. He had four touchdowns (but two interceptions) in a tight loss to Arizona and three in a blowout loss to to USC. He also had three in a loss to Ohio State. The Pac-12 blog is reluctant to give credit for beating FCS teams. So we’ll just say Goff’s best days are still ahead of him. Because we believe they are.

Career low point: Believe it or not, Goff didn’t really have any horrendous statistical games. He had three interceptions in the season-opening loss to Northwestern -- but a couple of those were on his receivers. He didn’t play poorly in the Big Game loss to Stanford, though 63-13 is just a ridiculous blowout that no one at Cal probably felt good about. We’ll go with Oregon, though. He lost two fumbles in the first three possessions (in monsoon conditions) and was replaced by Kline in the first quarter.

When he was a recruit: Goff committed to Cal in March of his junior season, then led his Marin Catholic team to the state finals, throwing for 3,692 yards and 40 touchdowns as the starter ahead of eventual Oregon quarterback signee, Morgan Mahalak. An Elite 11 finalist and an ESPN 300 prospect at No. 267 overall, Goff was a top-20 quarterback recruit and was Cal’s first commitment in the 2013 recruiting class, selecting the Golden Bears over offers from Boise State and Washington State. While it was no sure thing that Goff would walk in and immediately grab the starting position over quarterbacks such as Kyle Boehm and Kline, there was plenty in his ESPNRecruiting Nation scouting report to suggest he was capable. “Goff is a really crisp pocket passer with a tight, quick release. He has ideal height and adequate bulk already and is only going to get bigger, fill out and should become a powerful passer in time. Goff is very consistent fundamentally and his arm, release and accuracy are very attractive.”

Opposing head coach’s take: “In my humble opinion, he’s a budding superstar. He’s got to put some weight on because he’s still a little skinny. You talk about quick release. You talk about accurate. We talk about quarterbacks that are smooth. The best quarterbacks are always smooth. And as much as he got hit last year, he can stand in the pocket and release that ball and make some great decisions. I think the arrow is really going up for him.”

What to expect in 2014: A lot more maturity and a lot more consistency. Again, the Pac-12 blog doesn’t believe Cal’s record last year is indicative of his talent. Goff had five games last year where he didn’t throw an interception, so that mindset of protecting the football is already well ingrained in him. Goff has an extremely talented crop of receivers to work with -- arguably one of the best groups in the league -- and the coaching staff has said they are dedicated establishing a rushing attack, which will take a lot of the pressure off of Goff to make plays with his arm. Or at least, make easier plays. He’s told the Pac-12 blog on several occasions that last year was an amazing and positive learning experience for him. And at Pac-12 media days he talked about channeling some of the frustrations from last year (of which there were many) into getting better in 2014. He’s certainly in the right offense for his skill set. Recall, in 2012 Sonny Dykes had the No. 1 scoring offense in the country at Louisiana Tech, averaging 51.5 points per game, and the No. 1 total offense, averaging 577.9 yards per game. With the experienced gained last year, we’re looking for Goff to make big strides statistically (more touchdowns, better completion percentage) and as a team leader.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

[sendacash]

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Sefo Liufau[/h] August, 20, 2014 Aug 20
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By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Sefo Liufau (pronounced seff-0h loo-fow)

School: Colorado Buffaloes

Grade: Sophomore

2013 passing stats: Completed 149 of 251 passes (59.4 percent) for 1,779 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. He had a raw QBR of 44.8 and an adjusted QBR of 54.4.

Career passing stats: Same as above.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 40 times for 43 yards and zero touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: Same as above.

Liufau on Twitter

[+] Enlarge Doug Pensinger/Getty ImagesSefo Liufau will need to be more consistent in his second season at Colorado.


What you need to know about Liufau: When the Buffs saw their nonconference game against Fresno State canceled because of flooding in Boulder last year, it opened up the schedule for another FCS team in Charleston Southern. That's when head coach Mike MacIntyre shrewdly pulled the trigger and inserted Liufau into the starting lineup -- though he'd seen extended action the previous game against ASU. The move gave the freshman a bit of confidence as he went 14-of-20 for 198 yards and a touchdown. The Liufau era was officially underway. Jordan Gehrke played well enough in the spring to keep Liufau on his toes during fall camp -- though as the only Buffs quarterback with any game experience, Liufau is the guy unless he plays himself out of the starting spot.

Career high point: Besides the Charleston Southern win, Liufau's only other victory as a starter came in a 41-24 victory over Cal. He was impressive, completing 23 of 36 passes for 364 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. In the process, the Buffs snapped a 14-game skid against conference opponents. Liufau is young, and the Buffs coaching staff hope he's got many more career high points to come.

Career low point: Like the career high point, he doesn't have many games to work with. But the 59-7 loss to Washington last year was a pretty rough game all around. Liufau completed just 12 of 22 passes with a touchdown and two interceptions. One of his interceptions was a pick-six on the first drive of the second half, and the second one came on the very next drive. He was pulled in the fourth quarter in favor of Connor Wood.

When he was a recruit: Colorado was Liufau's only offer, but that doesn't truly tell the story of his recruitment, as the former four-star quarterback received plenty of interest from some of the Pac-12's top programs, including Oregon, Stanford and UCLA. While it was something of an up-and-down season for Liufau once he took over as a starter in the seventh game of the season, that didn't come as much of a shock, due to his status as a first-year player and looking back to his ESPN RecruitingNation scouting report. There are the ups: "He is an imposing player who, when in rhythm, can really get hot and make every throw on the field." The downs: "His release mechanics show promise, but are not always consistent. He can look smooth on one throw and quirky on the next." And what makes him exciting for the future at Colorado: "Liufau is raw fundamentally and has some street ball characteristics when things break down, but there are tools to mold and he has upside as a result."

Opposing head coach's take: “Very athletic. Strong player. He's got a great future. We have to see what he does without that big No. 6 there as a security blanket (receiver Paul Richardson). If they can put some pieces around him, he could be a strong leader for that program. But he's still young. He's got a lot of developing to do.”

What to expect in 2014: Liufau is a work in progress. But there were flashes in 2013 of what he's capable of. As our opposing head coach said, seeing what he can do without the benefit of Richardson will be interesting. Of Liufau's 149 completions last season, 52 were made by Richardson. And 5 of his 12 touchdown passes were caught by “big No. 6.” He's already been voted a season-long team captain by his teammates. So his teammates have faith in him. He's got three starting offensive linemen returning to protect him and there's a potentially strong running game behind him. No one is tapping Liufau for all-conference just yet. But the playing experience he gained last season should pay dividends as the Buffs move into a much more difficult schedule (remember, no FCS teams this year). First mental test comes in Week 1 against rival Colorado State. Matching last year's win total (which included two wins over FCS teams) would be considered a step forward for the program and Liufau could cement himself as the Colorado starter for the next couple of years.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

[Conan]

IMHO, the newcomer that stands to contribute the most to his team's success would be Sefo Liufau. It's very easy to say that the Buffs have no place to go but up but there's more to it than that. Unless something happens to Sefo, he should ride that team on an upwards spiral for at least a couple of years. He has already begun to forge relationships with his WR's and his coach Mike MacIntyre has shown clear tendencies to create a passing offense just about every opportunity he can as well as keep his opponents guessing. Liafu has pretty good size too standing 6'4" tall. I am very interested to see how well MacIntyre can marshal his assets at CU the way he was able to pull SJSU up out of the muck and mire when he coached there. I think Liufau is just the man to do it for him. The chemistry looks about right to me. This could be a breakout year for the Buff ATS. It's worth keeping in mind.

 

[sendacash]

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Brett Hundley[/h] August, 21, 2014 Aug 21
7:00
PM ET

By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Brett Hundley

School: UCLA

Grade: Junior

[+] Enlarge Stephen Dunn/Getty ImagesKnown for his running ability, Brett Hundley has the passing chops to make him a Heisman candidate and a future first-round draft pick.


2013 passing stats: Completed 248 of 369 passes (67.2 percent) to go with 3,071 passing yards and 24 touchdowns to nine interceptions. Posted a raw QBR of 75.3 and adjusted QBR of 82.3.

Career passing stats: Completed 567 of 848 passes (66.9 percent) to go with 6,816 yards and 52 touchdowns to 20 interceptions. Has a raw QBR of 67.0 and an adjusted QBR of 74.4.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 160 times for 748 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: Rushed 320 times for 1,103 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Hundley on Twitter

What you need to know about Hundley: Former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel hasn’t been shy about talking up what kind of talent Hundley had when he recruited him. Nor is he shy about his decision to redshirt Hundley in what turned out to be his final season as head coach. As a result, incoming coach Jim Mora benefited greatly and watched Hundley easily separate himself from Kevin Prince, Richard Brehaut and Jerry Neuheisel. Hundley has since gone on to start 27 straight games, is an early Heisman candidate and widely regarded as one of the most athletic and explosive players in college football.

Career high point: Should we go with USC in 2012? Or USC in 2013? In either case, Hundley was sensational in both. He has five combined touchdowns (one passing, four rushing) in two games against the Trojans and has completed 70 percent of his throws against the cross-town rivals. And while he’s struggled against Stanford and Oregon (games he and the Bruins need to win to prove they are worthy of their top-10 ranking) he’s brought his A-game both times around against USC.

Career low point: Hundley wasn’t terrible in last season's loss to Arizona State. He threw a couple of touchdowns and completed 60 percent of his passes. But a furious ASU front sacked Hundley nine times and corralled him to a season-low five yards rushing. On top of it, the loss gave the South Division title (which the Bruins had held the previous two seasons) to the Sun Devils.

[h=4]BETTER KNOW A QB[/h]

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever.

• QB snapshots
• More from Pac-12 blog


When he was a recruit: Hundley was the No. 6 overall quarterback in 2011 and the gem of UCLA's recruiting class. The No. 107 prospect in the country, Hundley held offers from programs such as Michigan, Oregon, Stanford, Texas A&M and Washington, among others. He eventually selected the Bruins over the Huskies. There were very few questions as to whether Hundley would become a star at the next level and when his redshirt freshman season coincided with the arrival of head coach Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone, Hundley’s career predictably took off. "He is a spread offense signal-caller that is a huge part of this offense both with his legs and his arm," his ESPN Recruiting Nation profile reads. "Overall, Hundley is a physically imposing athlete that can do it all. He has great upside to become more crisp and fluid in his mechanics, as he is just entering into his second year as a full-time starter. He will become a hot commodity quite quickly."

Opposing head coach’s take: “Similar to Mannion when you look at him. He’s a prototypical NFL quarterback, but with that mobility; with that ability to move in the pocket and out of the pocket. He’s going to be a high-round draft pick because of his size and his athletic ability. He’s a smart kid. He’s an accurate passer. The sky is the limit for him.”

Scouts' take: Even-keeled and mature individual. Dedicated student who is currently pursuing a double major. Loves football and is passionate about it. Strong work ethic and willing to make the sacrifices necessary. First guy in and last guy out of the building. ... Highly competitive. Adequate-to-above-average decision-maker. Still will make some questionable reads at times and force throws into coverage he shouldn’t attempt but in general is not careless with ball security. ... On one hand he is a deceiving athlete with very good size and strength to escape pressure and buy time. Not overly quick and gradually builds to top-end speed as runner. He has better mobility than anticipated on tape and poses enough of a threat to pick up chunk yards if not accounted for as a runner. On the flip side, he still has a lot of room for improvement working the pocket, which is the biggest concern from an evaluation standpoint heading into the 2014 season. Will get finicky when feeling pressure and must show better patience within the pocket. Often vacates pocket too early instead of sliding to open area and getting through progressions. Also has a bad habit of dropping his eyes and looking at the rush when evading pressure and will miss reads as a result.

What to expect in 2014: At this point, it’s about the little details. Hundley spent a couple of weeks during the offseason working out with current and former NFL quarterbacks for the sole purpose of learning what it’s like to play in the league. The hope is that the knowledge gained will transfer to his college game. He’s one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the country. Yet all too often he gets labeled as a running quarterback when he threw for more than 3,000 yards and led all quarterbacks in the Pac-12 in completion percentage. That’s right, Mr. Scramble was the most accurate passer in the league last season. We expect his already stellar touchdown-to-interception ratio to improve while still maintaining his outstanding rushing numbers. The belief is that with some health and experience on the offensive line, Hundley’s sack numbers will also go down (no Pac-12 quarterback has been sacked more than Hundley's 87 times in the past two seasons). Look for Hundley to be in the running for all sorts of postseason awards -- Heisman included -- before hearing his name called in the first round of the 2015 draft.

Erik McKinney and Kevin Weidl contributed to this report.

 

[sendacash]

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Cody Kessler[/h] August, 21, 2014 Aug 21
5:00
PM ET

By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Cody Kessler

School: USC

Grade: Junior

[+] Enlarge Kirby Lee/USA TODAY SportsCody Kessler finished with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions last fall.


2013 passing stats: Completed 236 of 361 passes (65.4 percent) for 2,968 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Posted a raw QBR of 59 with an adjusted QBR of 66.1.

Career passing stats: Completed 238 of 363 passes (65.6 percent) for 2,977 yards with 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Posted a raw QBR of 59 with an adjusted QBR of 66.1.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 42 times for minus-124 yards with one rushing touchdown.

Career rushing stats: Same as above.

Kessler on Twitter

What you need to know about Kessler: Kessler was locked in a quarterback competition with Max Wittek following the 2012 season and Matt Barkley's departure. That competition went from the winter into the spring and continued to spill over into the fall while then-coach Lane Kiffin flip-flopped the first few games. Kessler eventually won the job and -- under offensive coordinator Clay Helton’s direction and play-calling -- steadily improved during the Ed Orgeron era. When Steve Sarkisian was hired, Kessler proved himself all over again, beating out Max Browne in the spring to retain his spot. He has a firm grasp of the pro-style scheme and showed his smarts to Sarkisian and Co. by quickly picking up the up-tempo elements. So much so that Sarkisian named Kessler the starter in the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] practice of the spring.

Career high point: From a team standpoint, without a question, it was the victory against Stanford last season. Kessler was an efficient 25 of 37 for 288 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. From a personal, statistical standpoint, he was outstanding in USC’s 45-20 win against Fresno State in the Las Vegas Bowl. He connected on 22 of 30 passes for a career high 345 yards and four touchdowns and was named the game’s MVP.

Career low point: Kessler had one multi-interception game last season, and it was in a 62-41 blowout loss to ASU. Not only was that a low point for him, but it was one of the darkest days in program history (or brightest, depending how you felt about Kiffin). That loss led to Kiffin’s infamous airport firing, but also united the Trojans under Orgeron and they went on to win seven of their final nine games. Still, that had to be a bad flight from Tempe to Los Angeles.

[h=4]BETTER KNOW A QB[/h]

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever.

• QB snapshots
• More from Pac-12 blog


When he was a recruit: The No. 29 overall quarterback in the 2011 class, Kessler was 26 slots lower than Max Wittek, who also signed with USC that year and eventually transferred when Kessler earned the starting position. Despite lacking prototypical height for the position, Kessler earned offers from Alabama, Arizona State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, UCLA and Washington, among others. Fortuitous timing led to his commitment to USC. As Kessler was in his coach’s office, ready to make a phone call and commit to the Washington Huskies and then-head coach Steve Sarkisian, the phone rang. It was the USC coaches calling to offer a scholarship, which completely changed the trajectory of Kessler’s recruitment. Kessler jumped on board, even though the Trojans already held a commitment from Wittek. Kessler went on to grind his way to the top of the depth chart, which sounds fairly familiar. "Kessler is an impressive prospect that grows on you the more you watch him. He has a salty demeanor and swagger about him that makes you want to watch more of him," his ESPN Recruiting Nation profile read.

Opposing head coach's take: "Cody battled some early things. He didn’t play great early in the season. But we really saw him come on. Much like a Kevin Hogan, it’s not always the highlight plays. But you see a guy make a tough play to win a football games -- taking a hit in the pocket and standing in there to make a play down the field, pushing up in the pocket and escaping for a first down. You see him do all the things that good football players do."

What to expect in 2014: Kessler is accurate and he takes care of the football. Those are two extremely important keys to success, regardless of who your coach is or what kind of a scheme you run. Of the returning starters, only Marcus Mariota had fewer interceptions than Kessler. And it’s worth noting that after Kiffin was fired and Helton took over the play-calling, Kessler had just three interceptions over the final nine games. No other quarterback in the league can claim that type of ball security over that stretch. Sarkisian wisely retained Helton as his offensive coordinator, which Kessler has said several times was a big relief because those two work so well together. So you factor all of that, combined with the experience gained last season and an up-tempo twist (which certainly benefited Keith Price's efficiency last season when Sarkisian was at Washington), and you have the potential for a very efficient and dangerous quarterback. Oh yeah, it also helps to have Nelson Agholor and a healthy George Farmer at receiver.

Erik McKinney contributed reporting.

 

[Conan]

The first game I saw Nelson Agholor play WR, I picked him to be the next great USC receiver which was a tough call at the time because he played behind Marqise Lee. Maybe it would be better described as Agholor who picked himself and it was obvious. He made an easy call of it for anyone. I have no doubt that Cody Kessler owes much of his success to him -- perhaps as many as 4 or possibly 5 points worth of his accuracy is due to Agholor's ability to get open downfield with very sticky hands. Of course credit goes to Kessler for knowing his receivers that well.

 

[sendacash]

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Marcus Mariota[/h] August, 22, 2014 Aug 22
3:30
PM ET

By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. We conclude the 10-part series with Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Name: Marcus Mariota

School: Oregon

Grade: Junior

[+] Enlarge AP Photo/Don RyanAfter a stellar first two seasons, expectations for Oregon junior quarterback Marcus Mariota are higher than ever.


2013 passing stats: Completed 245 of 386 passes (63.5 percent) for 3,665 yards with 31 touchdowns and four interceptions. Posted a raw QBR of 84.2 and an adjusted QBR of 88.0.

Career passing stats: Has completed 475 of 772 passes (65.8 percent) for 6,342 yards with 63 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Has a raw QBR of 83.3 and an adjusted QBR of 87.2.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 96 times for 715 yards with nine touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: Has rushed 202 times for 1,467 yards and 14 touchdowns.

What you need to know about Mariota: Following the departure of Darron Thomas, Mariota was locked in a nearly eight-month competition with Bryan Bennett. Mariota winning the job was considered a mild upset at the time because many thought it would be Bennett, considering he’d backed up Thomas and saw action in nine games the previous season. But a week before the start of the 2012 season, then-coach Chip Kelly pulled the trigger on Mariota, and the Ducks have benefited with a 23-3 mark with him as the starter. He’s a heavy Heisman favorite heading into the season, and many are predicting him to be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft.

Career high point: Mariota has been lights out against nearly every Pac-12 team, save last year’s loss to Arizona and a pair of losses to Stanford. He’s bested Washington twice with eight passing touchdowns (plus one rushing) to one interception in two games. He’s topped UCLA and won a pair of bowl games. He's been so good in so many games, but for now we'll pick winning the 2013 Fiesta Bowl over Kansas State as a high point. The only thing left to accomplish (besides a national championship, an annual expectation in Eugene) is to get over the Stanford hump. The Cardinal have limited him to just 57 percent passing and three passing touchdowns in two games.

Career low point: Either Stanford game would be a suitable choice. Both times the Ducks were undefeated and on their way to a potential spot in the BCS national championship. But the loss to Arizona last season was a stinger for Mariota and the program. He saw his interception-free streak come to an end by tossing a pair of picks (though he did throw two touchdowns), and the loss knocked Oregon out of the Pac-12 championship game and out of an at-large berth in a BCS bowl. It's worth noting that he played through a knee injury in the final six games of last season.

[h=4]BETTER KNOW A QB[/h]

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever.

• QB snapshots
• More from Pac-12 blog


When he was a recruit: Few recruiting classes provide specific positions with more talking points than Oregon’s quarterback chase in the 2011 class. At one point, the Ducks held commitments from Jerrard Randall and Johnny Manziel, as well as a third quarterback. After Manziel decommitted and Randall didn’t qualify, the Ducks were stuck with the third guy, the No. 123 signal-caller in the country, the lowest-rated commitment in the Ducks’ class -- some kid named Marcus Mariota. Oregon extended the offer before Mariota ever took a snap as a starter and the quarterback committed to the Ducks prior to his senior season. His ESPN Recruiting Nation profile doesn’t exactly project greatness -- few outside of the Oregon coaching staff did at the time -- but it did hit on some key points. “Mariota is a tall and lanky quarterback prospect that is part pocket passer and part runner as he is really athletic ... Mariota could be a guy that develops later down the road and needs to be in the spread offense where he can use his athleticism.”

Opposing head coach’s take: “He’s the best quarterback in the nation. And I think the last couple years he’s been the best quarterback in the nation. I don’t care what they say about anybody else. Tall, fast, athletic, accurate, strong arm, great decision-maker, great kid. He’s one of those guys that you root for until you have to play him. Then you’re scared to death of him.”

Scouts' take: A humble and charismatic individual. The entire athletic department and school faculty speak highly of him. On the quiet side by nature but a strong leader by example. Has become more vocal as he gains experience and showed willingness to get in teammates' faces last year. Excellent work ethic. Willing to put the necessary time in and pay the price. ... A highly competitive and even-keeled player who rarely seems rattled on tape. Benefits from spread, uptempo attack that simplifies reads and creates bigger throwing windows. Has been a very sound decision-maker throughout his first two years as a starter (63-to-10 TD-to-INT ratio). Still will take unnecessary risks at times with late throws he should not make. ... Has a unique ability to deliver accurate throw on the run or from an unbalanced platform. Improved deep-ball projection and overall accuracy. ... Dynamic athlete who has the ability to put stress on a defense with his mobility, both as a thrower and a runner. Very good body control and balance when evading pressure and has excellent escape ability. Has natural improvisational instincts when working off schedule. Above-average elusiveness and rare straight line-play speed. Has a very similar running style to Colin Kaepernick in terms of stride length and deceiving straight-line speed to ruin pursuit angles.

What to expect in 2014: Is it too much to ask for a Heisman? Because that’s the national expectation for Mariota. It’s not his -- or at least something he thinks about (according to multiple interviews) -- but that’s how the rest of the country sees him. It’s more than fair to say Heisman voters were turned off after Mariota suffered a partially torn MCL against UCLA (which was kept quiet for as long as possible), which contributed to losses against Stanford and Arizona. Before that, he was the runaway winner. This season should provide more of the same. Accuracy, efficiency and dazzling dual-threat numbers that make voters gush. But bigger than personal accolades, Mariota returned because of how the Ducks finished the last two seasons. As noted, he’s yet to beat Stanford and thus, he’s yet to win a Pac-12 championship. The Ducks are again the favorites heading into the season. He lost a key receiver in Bralon Addison and a key lineman in Tyler Johnstone to unfortunate preseason injuries. But there is more than enough speed and talent around him for Mariota to elevate the play of his teammates. Mariota is possibly the best player in the country. And the Pac-12 blog expects him to live up to that hype in 2014.

Erik McKinney and Kevin Weidl contributed to this report.

 

[sendacash]

[h=3]Better know a Pac-12 QB: Sean Mannion[/h] August, 22, 2014 Aug 22
2:30
PM ET

By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com

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The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever. This week, the Pac-12 blog will give you a snapshot of all 10.

Name: Sean Mannion

School: Oregon State

Grade: Senior

2013 passing stats: Completed 400 of 603 attempts (66.3 percent) for 4,662 yards with 37 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Posted a raw QBR of 68.5 and an adjusted QBR of 74.1.

[+] Enlarge Steve Conner/Icon SportswireSean Mannion is on pace to become the all-time leading receiver in Pac-12 history.


Career passing stats: Has completed 905 of 1,385 passes (65.3 percent) for 10,436 yards with 68 touchdowns and 46 interceptions. Has a raw QBR of 61.1 and an adjusted QBR of 67.3.

2013 rushing stats: Rushed 34 times for minus-223 yards and no touchdowns.

Career rushing stats: Has rushed 84 times for minus-498 yards and one touchdown.

Mannion on Twitter

What you need to know about Mannion: By the time he ends his career as a four-year starter, he’ll be one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in league history. That's impressive, considering the rocky start to his career. He split time with Ryan Katz in 2011 as the Beavers opened that season with a loss to Sacramento State and then got thumped a week later by Wisconsin. It was in the third game against UCLA that Mannion was named the sole starter. In 2013, he set the league’s single-season passing record with 4,662 yards and needs just 1,436 more yards to pass Matt Barkley as the Pac-12’s all-time leading passer. He already owns 11 Oregon State passing records.

Career high point: While not his most impressive game statistically (he’s had seven games with at least four passing touchdowns), the Pac-12 blog thought he showed great poise in 2012 in a 27-20 victory over a surging No. 19 UCLA team at the Rose Bowl on Sept. 22, 2012. He threw a pair of touchdowns and one interception, completing 24 of 35 passes for 379 yards. Afterward, coach Mike Riley called it an important game for Mannion’s development and maturity. That would prove to only be partially true as injuries and a quarterback debate took center stage in 2012.

Career low point: Losing to a rival stinks. Losing to a rival and playing poorly stinks even more. In the 2012 Civil War – a 48-24 loss to the Ducks -- Mannion had just one touchdown and four interceptions. The earlier victory over UCLA seemed like a distant memory as Mannion’s 2012 was accented by a midseason knee injury and some flip-flopping with Cody Vaz. Though the Beavers had one win left against Nicholls State (and then a bowl loss to Texas), the Civil War was a reminder that Mannion still had a lot of growing to do in terms of decision-making.

[h=4]BETTER KNOW A QB[/h]

The Pac-12 is blessed with an abundance of returning starting quarterbacks in 2014. With 10 starters coming back, many are wondering if the league is on pace for its best quarterback year ever.

• QB snapshots
• More from Pac-12 blog


When he was a recruit: In the 2010 recruiting class, Pac-12 programs signed six of the top 30 quarterbacks in the country, including Mannion. Though he was pursued by several programs, Oregon State was the only one to step in with an early offer, which Mannion jumped on during the summer before his senior season. Standing 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds coming out of high school, size was never a concern and neither was arm strength, according to his ESPN Recruiting Nation profile. “The more you watch Mannion, the more you like him. He is green and has yet to grow into his impressive frame, but as far as pocket passers go in this class, he is extremely impressive in terms of arm strength and most importantly accuracy.”

Opposing head coach’s take: “He’s your prototypical NFL quarterback. Tall, quick release, accurate. Not as mobile as you’d love to have. But at the same time, he can stay in the pocket and really hurt you … he’s tough. A lot of people don’t appreciate how tough he is. He stands in there and takes some big hits, but always seems to get the ball out just in time.”

Scouts' take: An accountable, respectful and mature individual. Strong work ethic and willing to put in the time. Has taken on more of a leadership role this offseason. One of the guys, but not a follower. Can take hard coaching. Will be the only player in team history to be elected a three-time team captain. ... Shows a strong grasp of defensive fronts and pre-snap coverages. Knows where he is protected and where his hot reads/site adjustments are. Flashes ability to work the entire field and get through progressions. Ball security has been an issue throughout his career so far (46 career INTs). Inconsistent decision-maker and takes too many risks into traffic. Must learn when to pick and choose when it comes to taking his shots. ... Lacks ideal mobility and does not have the ability to escape and put stress on a defense with his legs. However, he’s not completely without mobility, as he possesses adequate foot quickness to maneuver within the pocket.

What to expect in 2014: By virtue of their personnel, i.e. Brandin Cooks, the Beavers were much more tilted toward the pass than head coach Mike Riley probably would have liked (63 percent pass ratio). They’d like a little more balance to one, keep opposing defenses on their toes; and two, to take a little more pressure off of Mannion. He’s had the benefit the last two seasons of working with remarkable receivers in Cooks and Markus Wheaton in 2012. Look for Mannion – and the Beavers – to be more well-rounded in 2014. The tight end will likely take on a larger role with the talented Connor Hamlett. And while the Beavers need other receivers to step up, it’s still on Mannion to get them the football. His completion percentage has climbed every year he’s been a starter – as have his touchdowns and yards. Each year you can see marked improvement in his game. And 2014 should be no different.

Erik McKinney and Kevin Weidl contributed reporting.

 

[culturalstew]

Jeez ever hear of a link?
My ranking of PAC QBs, as college players not NFL potential.
1. Mariotta, his only weakness he fumbles way to much
2. Kelly, best brain and eyes in the group
3. Huntley
4. Hogan
5. Kessler
6. Mannion
7. Wilson
Mannion and Wilson both have million dollar arms and 5¢ brains
8. Halliday like the 2 above him he's an INT machine.

 

[Conan]

Maybeso, but he does avoid getting picked off to make up for it to a degree.

Last season Mariota showed up with an extra 20 lbs. of bulk and he ran faster than he did the season before. Kids tend to do that when they are still growing up. I will also say that he might be the fastest rushing QB that I have ever seen. He looks like a high hurdles runner with his long perfectly measured and deceptively fast strides. He can outspeed most of the safeties and corners he faces other than possibly one per team (or not.) That assessment is pretty tight to what you might end up with yourself. He just runs for daylight and gets there as fast as possible -- and he often wins the race. I do believe that he's a faster runner than Colin Kaepernick. Or maybe I lost my stopwatch and don't feel like scouring around for that info. From the position he plays he gives DC's and HC's nightmares. I agree that you can't always hang your star on a QB and expect to go all the way to the top with him, but Mariota is the kind of QB that you can. I wish I had a fortune cookie.

It's interesting to note that both UCLA and Oregon have had their share of rotten luck when their QB is expected to put up Heisman numbers. UCLA has considered itself lucky just to have someone who is capable of taking snaps under center behind an offensive line that hasn't had at least 9 or 10 different players start games... and you can toss plenty of Freshmen into the mix too if you are a UCLA fan. Last season was no different as far as UCLA's OL was concerned, but this year they are all coming back... same goes for the Duck's OL with just a recent loss of OT Tyler Johnstone with an injured ACL.

I have a hunch that this season it will be quite different for both offenses because they will find some consistency and a little luck under center to carry Bret Hundley and Marcus Mariota through the year relatively unscathed. Both teams have more than paid their dues in the survival department.

 

[culturalstew]

My take is that UCLA should be the fav in the PAC S, but could easily lose 4 PAC games!

 

[Enfuego]

#25 in the nation and no mention of the UW QB?

 

[culturalstew]

If you're referring to Cyler Miles, no one knows how good or bad he is. My hunch is that he's not as good as Keith Price and will make bad decisions!

 

[WinOne]

If you're referring to Cyler Miles, no one knows how good or bad he is. My hunch is that he's not as good as Keith Price and will make bad decisions!

CS, I'll disagree with you on Miles. I think he's going to be the next big thing...however I might not be @UW if HC Pete doesn't pull his head out of his butt. All I know is what I heard from the former UW staff that is now at SC, he's the real deal. Arm, feet, decision making, etc. And you can't complain about the numbers he put up in the mop up effort against UCLA after Price got concussed, and his work the next week against Oregon St.

I do look forward to watching all these guys light up the PAC12 defenses. I would not want to be a DC this year that cant get a pass rush or have a great secondary. There will be some sleepless nights.

WinOne!!

 

[WinOne]

#25 in the nation and no mention of the UW QB?

Just did!!