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Predicting the Winners of College Football’s QB Competitions

By Nicholas Ian Allen

Jan 3, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) runs past Clemson Tigers safety Robert Smith (27) for a touchdown in the first half during the 2014 Orange Bowl college football game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller (5) runs past Clemson Tigers safety Robert Smith (27) for a touchdown in the first half during the 2014 Orange Bowl college football game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 6, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) warms up prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 6, 2014; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jake Coker (14) warms up prior to the game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports /

Similar to Josh Rosen at UCLA, Blake Barnett is a five-star quarterback from California ranked among the top 25 players in the most recent recruiting class. Also like Rosen, Barnett is an early enrollee that has put himself firmly in the mix to become the starting quarterback at a school with championship expectations.

And like Rosen, Barnett is competing against a veteran backup and some talented young signal callers. However, the odds of Barnett winning the starting quarterback job at Alabama are much longer than those of Rosen leading the Bruins in 2015.

Last summer, Jake Coker was anointed the starter in Tuscaloosa by the fans, media and just about everyone not named Nick Saban or Lane Kiffin before he even stepped foot on the practice field for the Crimson Tide. After a hard-fought race for the job in the fall following Coker’s transfer from Florida State, Saban and Kiffin ultimately settled on fifth-year senior Blake Sims.

As Sims’ backup, Coker appeared in five games and completed a solid 38 of 59 pass attempts (64.4%) for 403 yards and four touchdowns without an interception. His 2014 performance gives Coker the edge right now over Alex Morris, Cooper Bateman, David Cornwell and Barnett, much like Sims’ four years in Saban’s program gave him the edge over Coker.

Expect the 6-foot-5, 230-pound rising senior to be named the starter this fall and keep Alabama in contention for another SEC title and playoff appearance.

Projected Winner: Jake Coker

Next: Ohio State

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