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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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Apr 5, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Anthony Jennings (10) and quarterback Brandon Harris (6) run drills during the 2014 spring game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2014; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Anthony Jennings (10) and quarterback Brandon Harris (6) run drills during the 2014 spring game at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Quarterback competitions are nothing new at LSU and incumbent Anthony Jennings and backup Brandon Harris are back at it for the second straight season.

Jennings narrowly held off Harris prior to the 2014 campaign in the race to replace Zach Mettenberger, though following a slow start to the season for Jennings, the true freshman Harris earned the start against Auburn. Harris was dreadful and completed just three of 13 passes for 58 yards (52 of them coming on one play) and only threw one pass the rest of the season – an interception against Kentucky – and didn’t play at all in the last three games of the season.

Overall, Harris completed 25 of 45 passes for 452 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Jennings started the final seven games of the season, and was serviceable. However, the 6-foot-2, 216 rising junior completed just 48.9% of his passes last season for 1,61 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. After being benched, Jennings was 63-for-134 (47.0 %) for 793 yards, six TDs and was picked off four times.

Reports indicate that Jennings has been the more consistent of the two this spring, but Harris’ upside is hard to ignore. The 6-foot-3, 188-pound sophomore is more athletic and has a stronger arm and should eventually take control of the Tigers offense, but just hasn’t been able to wrestle the job away from the veteran Jennings.

Jennings and Harris are expected to split snaps with the first team offense Saturday during the team’s spring game.

Projected Winner: Brandon Harris

Next: Notre Dame

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