World sports writer John E. Hoover breaks down the Big 12 quarterbacks:
Austen Arnaud/ Phillip Bates
Iowa State
Year: Sophomore / Sophomore
Height, Weight: 6-3, 212 / 6-1, 215
About Arnaud/Bates: The winner gets to run the Big 12’s worst offense. Arnaud was a backup to Bret Meyer last season, throwing just 37 passes in six games. Bates was athletic enough to play wide receiver in 2007 (he caught five passes for 73 yards) and reportedly looked better in the spring game.
Sam Bradford
Oklahoma
Year: Sophomore
Height, Weight: 6-5, 213
About Bradford: Bradford’s poise and cool set the standard for all future freshman quarterbacks. He not only led the country in passer efficiency (176.5) and set a school record in completion percentage (.695), but put up big numbers along the way (36 TD passes) and ranked among the nation leaders in yards per attempt (9.15).
Chase Daniel
Missouri
Year: Senior
Height, Weight: 6-0, 225
About Daniel: A three-year
starter and Heisman finalist in 2007, Chase Daniel and the Missouri spread seem made for each other. He threw for 4,306 yards, 33 TDs and just 11 INTs while completing 68.2 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 471 yards (253 net) and 4 TDs in leading Mizzou to its first North title.
Josh Freeman
Kansas State
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: 6-6, 250
About Freeman: Easily the Big 12’s most physically gifted quarterback, Freeman is already a target of NFL scouts. Last season, Freeman completed 63.3 percent of his throws for 3,353 yards and 18 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. He wants to play better in big games and elevate the play of those around him.
Joe Ganz
Nebraska
Year: Senior
Height, Weight: 6-1, 210
About Ganz: Of the top five passing yardage performances in Nebraska history, Ganz owns three of them — in three career starts last season, when he replaced injured Sam Keller. Ganz played in six games and completed 58.6 percent of his passes with 16 TDs and 7 INTs with 1,435 yards.
Graham Harrell
Texas Tech
Year: Senior
Height, Weight: 6-3, 200
About Harrell: A three-year starter, he is poised to become the Big 12’s all-time passing yardage leader. Last year he threw for 5,705 yards and 48 touchdowns (with 14 interceptions) while completing a Big 12 record 71.8 percent of his passes. Harrell still has plenty of targets, including All-American and Biletnikoff winner Michael Crabtree.
Cody Hawkins
Colorado
Year: Sophomore
Height, Weight: 5-11, 190
About Hawkins: The son of coach Dan Hawkins proved his mettle last season, throwing for 3,015 yards, 22 TDs and 17 interceptions. But it was his fourth-quarter moxie, rallying from 17 points down in a home upset of No. 3-ranked Oklahoma, that showed Cody Hawkins’ grit and skill as a field general.
Colt McCoy
Texas
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: About McCoy: After a stunningly good redshirt freshman season (29 TDs, 7 INTs), McCoy suffered inconsistency on the offensive line and injuries in the receiver corps last season and came back to Earth. He still threw for 3,303 yards and 22 TDs and completed 65.1 percent, but tossed 18 INTs.
Stephen McGee
Texas A&M
Year: Senior
Height, Weight: 6-3, 207
About McGee: A three-year starter who has run a triple-option variation of the zone-read, McGee under new coach Mike Sherman may be asked to pass more. That’s OK. He has thrown for 4,889 yards, 26 TDs and 11 INTs in his A&M career, and passed for 8,256 yards and a 3A state record 101 TDs in high school.
Todd Reesing
Kansas
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: 5-11, 200
About Reesing: Reesing was one of college football’s darlings last season as he steered the Jayhawks to an 11-0 start and Orange Bowl title. He stood small but played big, throwing 33 TDs and just 7 INTS (a Big 12 record 213 straight passes without a pick) with a .619 completion percentage and 3,486 yards.
Blake Szymanski
Baylor
Year: Junior
Height, Weight: 6-4, 204
About Szymanski: Szymanski performed well much of last season for the Bears, completing 57 percent of his passes with 22 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. In Baylor’s spread attack, he averaged 258.5 yards per game. But with a new coach in Art Briles and new competition in Miami transfer Kirby Freeman, Szymanski must win the job.
