2013 College Football Preview: Analyzing and Ranking Big 12 QBs

By Michael Schneid

The theme in the Big 12 is that each team has multiple QBs. If one goes down to injury or struggles, the schools are pretty equipped to handle it. At least seven teams could see themselves playing multiple QBs in 2013...

Oklahoma State (Clint Chelf/JW Walsh),  Texas (David Ash/Case McCoy), TCU (Casey Pachall/Trevone Boykin), Texas Tech (Michael Brewer/Davis Webb) West Virginia (Clint Trickett/Ford Childress/Paul Millard), Kansas St (Daniel Sams/Jake Waters), Oklahoma (Blake Bell/Kendal Thompson/Trevor Knight)

"Battle is the most magnificent competition in which a human being can indulge. It brings out all that is best; it removes all that is base. All men are afraid in battle. The coward is the one who lets his fear overcome his sense of duty. Duty is the essence of manhood." - George S. Patton

With a lot of uncertainty in the Big 12, we rank the QBs 1-10 but analyze each team's QB situation and how they could look on offense.

1. David Ash, Texas
2. Clint Chelf, Oklahoma State
3. Casey Pachall, TCU
4. Bryce Petty, Baylor
5. Michael Brewer, Texas Tech
6. Clint Tricket, West Virginia
7. Blake Bell, Oklahoma
8. Jake Heaps, Kansas
9. Daniel Sams, Kansas State
10. Sam Richardson, Iowa St

Experience actually gives David Ash the edge over Clint Chelf and Bryce Petty. He has more starts than any other QB in the Big 12 right now. With the conference wide open, that edge in experience gives Texas a big advantage entering the season. Ash has WR Mike Davis and Jaxon Shipley, two of the league's best, to help him out. He has finally solidified himself in the starting role and won't need to worry about Case McCoy stealing his thunder. Texas also has a trio of running backs that can help take some of the offensive load off of Ash.

Clint Chelf threw for 1588 yards, 15 TD, 6 INT in 2012, starting the last 6 games of the season. JW Walsh will get some playing time for Ok St but now that Wes Lunt has transferred to Illinois, Chelf is the man to guide the Cowboys moving forward. Oklahoma State has a very high powered, pass happy offense and that will continue to be the case in 2013, with Chelf the beneficiary of big numbers. 

Casey Pachall missed time due to a drug suspension. But before he sat out his numbers were very good. 64 of 97 for 948 yards, 10 TD, INT. Pachall's accuracy is a big part of his success. It's been a long road back for Pachall following his DUI and failed drug test, but assuming Pachall has his personal life in order, his football life will be once again trending upwards.

Despite having thrown just 14 passes in his career, Bryce Petty is one of the top quarterbacks in the Big 12. The Baylor junior replaces Nick Florence, who did a fine job replacing Robert Griffin. Petty should continue to carry on a fine lineage of Baylor QBs over the last couple seasons. They have enough firepower at WR and RB (Lache Seastrunk is a potential Heisman candidate) that Petty has a chance to jump right in and take control.
 

Michael Brewer is lucky. He takes over the Texas Tech QB job for head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury spent last season in college station working with Heisman trophy winner, Johnny Manziel. Beofre that, he was in Houston with Case Keenum, working under Kevin Sumlin at both stops. Sumlin has been regarded as the next coach to jump to the NFL. Brewer will receive great tutelage in Lubock. Having experienced weapons will help Brewer as All-Big 12 WR Eric Ward returns and will provide Brewer with a go-to guy. Brewer, a sophomore, will be one the country's biggest breakout stars and will be near the top of this list in future seasons.

Whomever starts in Dana Holgorson's pass happy system will likely thrive. Just ask guys who he has coached before. Geno Smith, Brandon Weeden, and Case Keenum all put up video game numbers with Holgorson calling plays. Clint Trickett, a transfer from Florida State, who has played sparingly, is the favorite while Ford Childress and Paul Millard are candidates for playing time as well. Despite playing sparingly, Trickett did impress the staff at FSU when he did get in. In 2011, in a start at Clemson, Trickett completed 24-38 passes, 336 yards, 3 TD, INT. Not bad numbers for your first career start in a very hostile road environment.

Blake Bell replaces Landry Jones and has seen time in a wildcat-type role in the past. Bell is 6'6 265 pounds. Built like a fullback, he can definitely move the ball with his legs. But the "Bell-dozer" will need to improve on his passing as the full-time starter. He has big (no pun intended) potential but the Sooners also have quality backups that can step in if Bell doesn't develop as a pass.

Jake Heaps has experience at BYU and hopefully can develop into a better passer under Charlie Weis. Whether it's in college of the NFL, Weis has developed Brady Quinn, Jimmy Clausen, and Matt Cassel. Of course Weis did fail to develop Dayne Crist - twice. Crist struggled at Notre Dame and transferred to Lawrence to reunite with his former coach and struggled in 2012. Jake Heaps had 3768 yards, 24 TD, 17 INT in his career at BYU. Year 2 of the Weis era (or error?) should be better for the Jayhawks.

Whoever wins the QB competition in Manhattan has big shoes to fill. Colin Klein was a Heisman candidate in 2012 and the Wildcats played in a BCS bowl game. Daniel Sams is a sophomore, who sat behind Klein during his awesome 2012 season, Jake Walters was the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year in 2012. It is possible both QBs see substantial playing time, at least early in the season until they figure out which QB gives the Wildcats the best chance to win.

Waters was the NJCAA Offensive Player of the Year in 2012, - See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/big-12-quarterback-rankings-2013#sthash.BNJvkWWJ.dpuf

Sam Richardson replaces the QB duo of Steele Jantz and Jared Barnett at Iowa St. Richardson's experience consists of 79 total passes which is why he is on the bottom of the list. It also doesn't help that the Cyclones lack big-time playmakers at the skill positions offensively.

Who do YOU think is the best QB in the Big 12? Ash, Petty, Pachall, Chelf? Let us know in the comments section below.