Predicting the Winners of College Football’s QB Competitions
Following a four-touchdown performance in Oklahoma’s 45-31 Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama on the second day of the calendar year, Trevor Knight found himself on the short list of Heisman Trophy candidates entering the 2014 season. As it turned out, making Knight a Heisman contender was a bit premature.
As a sophomore, Knight completed 179 of his 316 passing attempts for 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns, but threw 12 interceptions (including three in a dreadful bowl game performance against Clemson) and also missed three games with an injury.
Now, Knight isn’t on any Heisman lists – and he might not even be the starting quarterback for the Sooners next season. According to offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, the rising junior will continue to compete with three contenders for the job through the fall.
"“Score more, turn it over less. It’s simple. It’s about who moves it, who takes care of the ball, who progresses. They are all doing it to a point,” Riley said. “You never know forecasting, but it looks like they are going to make it tough on us. They are all doing some good things. They’ve all had pretty strong springs. “There will be some separation in the summer. Summer, when you get away from them and it’s not regulated and a lot of it is on their own, you see more separation during that time. I’m sure, by the fall, that it will clarify itself some more.”"
Knight’s top competition might be Texas Tech transfer Baker Mayfield, who along with Dorial Green-Beckham gave the Sooners arguably the best scout team QB-receiver combo in the country last season. Mayfield, a 6-foot-2, 209-pound Austin, Texas native, completed 64.1% of his passes for 2,315 yards with 12 touchdowns and was intercepted nine times in eight games as a freshman with the Red Raiders in 2013.
Cody Thomas started the final three games of the regular season for the Sooners, but completed just 45.5% of his passes with two touchdowns and four interceptions as a freshman. He’s got talent, but is likely to finish third, ahead of Justice Hansen, who is also in the mix.
Expect Knight to emerge as the starter by the September 5 season opener against Akron, but if he struggles Mayfield is capable of stepping in and taking over.
Projected Winner: Trevor Knight
Next: Ole Miss