Jan 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Blake Bell (10) throws a pass against the Texas A
The Oklahoma Sooners really have no idea who will be their starting quarterback heading into the 2013 college football season. Sooners’ fans haven’t seen this since Sam Bradford stepped onto the field and won over the heart’s of the Sooner faithful. Landry Jones was thrown into the fire thanks to Bradford’s college career ending injury, but now there is a question of who will start out under center for OU.
Part of that will start to hopefully clear up at the Spring Red-White game.
Last year, the backup position was up in the air, and Blake Bell came into the Red-White game and started his ascension, finally passing Drew Allen for the job. With Allen probably transferring before the season starts, Bell is the front runner to come in as the 2013 starter, but there is someone else in the wings waiting to play spoiler. Last year, Blake Bell stole the backup job from Drew Allen and now Trevor Knight looks to do the same to Bell.
Sooners’ fans love Blake Bell, that is a fact. The problem is that Bell has not proven himself to be a game manager. He came in and ran for a ton of touchdowns over the last two years in the Belldozer formation, but he has not shown he can throw the ball and make the smart decisions OU needs him to if they want to compete in 2013. The spring game will give him that chance, but there is an open competition and Trevor Knight has all the skills necessary to win that job.
What advantage Bell has is in his experience. He knows the Sooners’ playbook, having played there actively the last two seasons. He was also a highly sought after recruit when he came to OU, a player known as much for his arm and smarts as he is now for his legs. Just because he has not run the offense regularly doesn’t mean he can’t.
But what about Trevor Knight?
He was the 22nd best quarterback in the nation in 2012 and worked with the scout team through the season. He knows the offense now too. Teammates like Aaron Colvin said that Knight is a playmaker with a bright future. He was the co-offensive player of the year for the scout team in 2012. He also has wheels, throwing for over 2,000 yards and running for over 1,000 yards in his senior season of high school. Departed safety Tony Jefferson called him a star.
If Trevor Knight dazzles in the spring game and takes off fast in fall practices, can Bob Stoops keep him off the field?
The odd man out here, and this is sad, is Kendall Thompson. The son of Charles Thompson came to OU from Southmoore High School and works just as hard, if not harder, than anyone on the team. He is quick and elusive and a smart quarterback. Yet, no one talks about him here. He could start for a lot of teams, but wanted to play for his dad’s alma-mater. Now, he sits behind a beloved returning quarterback and a hot youngster on the depth chart.
The Oklahoma Sooners won’t struggle in 2013 because of quarterback play, but the hard choice will be which one to put out there on opening day.