It’s been arguably referred to as “the most important position in football” since the inception of the forward pass and, in regards to the 2010 college football season, its importance may be taken to an even higher level.
The quarterback position—which was put on the back burner last year when running backs Mark Ingram of Alabama and Toby Gerhart of Stanford ripped through defenses week after week on their way to respective first- and second-place finishes in Heisman Trophy balloting—should have little trouble regaining the limelight this season.
There is a stockpile of premier quarterbacks all across the country ready for the responsibility of taking their teams as far as their arms (and, when necessary, their legs) will take them. One of those quarterbacks, Christian Ponder, will be suiting up for Florida State this fall, and has been named to the Davey O’Brien Award Watch List, a recognition awarded to the nation’s best quarterback at season’s end.
If Ponder is going to come away with the award, he will surely have earned it, as the competition will be fierce.
The majority of that competition lies west of the Mississippi, as the Pacific coast and Midwest region have more than its share of studs under center.
It’s only fair to start with Washington’s Jake Locker, who is already a virtual lock (no pun intended) to be the first player taken in the 2011 NFL Draft. That projection comes with validity, as Locker is considered to have the best combination of size and speed among quarterback prospects. Locker isn’t just physically gifted though; he has the skill set to make it big at the next level. In 2009, Locker threw for 2,800 yards and 21 touchdowns against only 11 interceptions, also adding in seven touchdowns on the ground.
Staying in the Pac-10, Stanford sophomore Andrew Luck appears primed to make a big splash this season and perhaps lead the Cardinal to their first Rose Bowl bid since 1999, as the conference is undeniably as open as ever this season.
Luck showed flashes of brilliance last season, throwing for 2,575 yards and 13 touchdowns, but his role will be even more crucial in 2010 without having the luxury of a gifted running back like Gerhart. Whether his team improves or not, his numbers are almost certain to increase, given that the Cardinal will be putting the ball in the air more since Gerhart’s departure.
Not all the best quarterbacks in the west come from BCS conferences—Houston’s Case Keenum and Boise State’s Kellen Moore, who was Ponder’s roommate at the Manning Passing Academy earlier this month, are living proof of that.
Keenum lit up the air last season with a staggering 5,671 yards and 44 touchdowns, while Moore led the Broncos to an undefeated season, tossing 39 touchdowns versus just three interceptions. Don’t be shocked to see at least one of these guys at the Heisman presentation in New York.
The East is well represented at the quarterback position with Ponder, Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Miami’s Jacory Harris spearheading the charge. Ponder, Pryor and Harris will each have the spotlight on them come Sept. 11 when Ponder and the Seminoles travel to Norman, Okla., to take on Oklahoma in a highly-anticipated matchup. Later that day, in primetime, Pryor’s Buckeyes will meet Harris’ Hurricanes in Ohio Stadium in the programs’ first meeting since their epic and controversial 2002 national championship game. After these clashes, we may have a clear understanding as to who the best quarterback in 2010 will be.
Whether we will know this that early in the season or not, one thing is certain: 2010 will be the year of the quarterback in college football.
I know Ingram is somewhere with his Heisman asking, “What about me?” Don’t get me wrong, Mark—you’ll have another outstanding year on a team that’s a favorite to win the national championship. But, simply put, it’s the quarterback’s time to shine.