The quarterback picture is starting to come into focus across college football fall camps, and a few of the biggest jobs are still hanging in the balance.
At Alabama, the race between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack is still too close to call. College football analyst Josh Pate said the Crimson Tide trust Mack more right now, but he also noted that Russell brings the bigger ceiling.
“I think they trust Austin Mack more,” said Pate, but also acknowledged “I think Keelon Russell's ceiling is higher.” With Kalen DeBoer under pressure, Russell getting early action feels likely, though no decision has been made yet.
Florida appears to have a similarly tight fight on its hands. Returnee Trammel Jones Jr. and transfer Aaron Philo are both in the mix, and new Gator head coach Jon Sumrall still seems to be sorting through the options.
“I like what both have done,” Sumrall said after a recent Florida scrimmage. “Neither one is light years ahead of the other.”
Philo may have a slight edge because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s system from their time together at Georgia Tech.
Iowa’s competition has stayed mostly behind closed doors, but one recent scrimmage offered a glimpse. Jeremy Hecklinski looked sharp against a tough Iowa defense, throwing for 205 yards and five touchdowns in a recent open practice.
Kirk Ferentz still hasn’t closed the door on Hank Brown, who is generally viewed as the steadier option. Brown went 9 for 21 for 42 yards in that same scrimmage, and the public read is that Hecklinski’s higher upside has given him the early lead.
Tennessee may be even closer to naming a starter. The Vols need a new QB1, and signs point to true freshman Faizon Brandon having the upper hand over returnee George MacIntyre, who is seen as the more experienced and safer choice. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Brandon hit several deep balls in a recent Tennessee scrimmage, and that could push Josh Heupel toward making a decision sooner rather than later.
Arizona State, meanwhile, has already trimmed its list. Kenny Dillingham has eliminated talented but inexperienced passers Jake Fette and Cameron Dyer, leaving the Sun Devils down to Fresno State/Michigan transfer Mikey Keene and Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley.
Both bring experience, and Boley’s edge could come from the extra scrambling work he picked up while playing behind a porous line at Kentucky last season. Even so, the battle remains unsettled for now.