Seth Russell, starting quarterback for the Baylor Bears, will miss the rest of the season after fracturing a neck bone in Baylor’s win over Iowa State on Saturday.
According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Baylor Bears starting quarterback Seth Russell will have to miss the rest of the 2015 NCAA Season as he suffered a broken neck bone in Saturday’s win over Iowa State. Baylor head coach Art Briles will go with freshman Jarrett Stidham for the rest of 2015.
Baylor QB Seth Russell will undergo surgery to his neck & miss remainder of 2015 season
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) October 26, 2015
This is a tough loss for Baylor as they enter Week 9 of the college football season as the number two team in the country, behind only reigning National Champion Ohio State. Russell was a potential Heisman candidate for the Bears, as Baylor is in the midst of College Football Playoff push.
Head Coach Art Briles will go with Jarrett Stidham at starting quarterback and likes his prized quarterback recruit going forward.
"Art Briles told me today Seth Russell has been “masterful” but Jarrett Stidham is “polished, very, very accurate and has great instincts.”"
Art Briles told me today Seth Russell has been “masterful” but Jarrett Stidham is “polished, very, very accurate and has great instincts.”
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 26, 2015
Though this loss is a difficult one for Baylor to stay in the playoff mix with five conference games remaining, including Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and arch rival TCU, if there is one thing Art Briles can do, it’s get outstanding play out of his quarterback.
Since Robert Griffin, III won the Heisman Trophy in 2011, Briles has had great success from Nick Florence, Brice Petty, and now Seth Russell at quarterback. Who’s to say that the high-powered offense of the Baylor Bears cannot run through Jarrett Stidham?
While it seems unlikely given who remains on Baylor’s slate in the Big 12, one thing is certain: if Baylor wants to avenge being left out of the inaugural College Football Playoff in 2014 as the bitter 5-seed, they will have to do it with Jarrett Stidham under center.