Freshman QB's And The SEC

[gatorunvrsty]

With all the talk about freshman QB's, or QB's who will get their first real SEC playing time this season, I thought I'd do a little research and see how they've historically made out in the SEC in their first years. Below is the list of teams and the freshman or first-time QB's who've won the SEC since the conference split into 2 divisions in 1992:

1993 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was named the starter after the 3rd game of the season, when he came in and beat UT. He went on to win the SECCG against Bama, 28-13, and the Sugar Bowl over West Virginia, 41-7.

That's it. One freshman QB has won the SEC in the last 16 years. There have been a couple of redshirt freshmen and sophomore QB's who had some prior experience in the SEC who've won it; but the vast majority were juniors and seniors. The SEC Champions and their QB's look like this:

1992 Alabama Crimson Tide - Jay Barker was a sophomore who had played in 9 games as a freshman.

1994 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a sophomore.

1995 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a junior.

1996 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a senior.

1997 Tennessee Volunteers - Peyton Manning was a senior.

1998 Tennessee Volunteers - Tee Martin was a senior.

1999 Alabama Crimson Tide - Andrew Zow was a sophomore who played in 10 games as a freshman.

2000 Florida Gators - Rex Grossman was a redshirt freshman who spent the '99 season playing QB for the UF scout team.

2001 LSU Tigers - Rohan Davey was a senior.

2002 Georgia Bulldogs - David Greene was a sophomore who had actually started all of 2001 as a redshirt freshman.

2003 LSU Tigers - Matt Mauck was a junior.

2004 Auburn Tigers - Jason Campbell was a senior.

2005 Georgia Bulldogs - D.J. Shockley was a senior.

2006 Florida Gators - Chris Leak was a senior.

2007 LSU Tigers - Matt Flynn was a senior.

So, basically, it's not like it's IMPOSSIBLE for a freshman to win the SEC; but it just isn't very likely. Once in 16 years; since there have been 12 teams and 2 divisions. In fact, it's not even very likely for a sophomore or redshirt freshman, unless he's had a season learning with his team or in actual game situations. Even then, it's only happened 4 times; and 3 of those 4 had played in at least 9 real games their previous season. Only Rex Grossman came in and won it his second year on the team without any real game experience.

[BAMAPERRY]

'97 UT was Mannings team. Also, Mauck was about a 27 year old Junior who left after that year.

[gatorunvrsty]

'97 UT was Mannings team. Also, Mauck was about a 27 year old Junior who left after that year.

Yeah, I did a typo with Manning, and accidentally put Martin both times. Thanks, I fixed it. I knew Mauck went to play baseball for 3 years. That only further makes my point, though. He redshirted in 2000, played sparingly in '01, and started for LSU in '02 and '03. By the time he won the SECCG, he was a seasoned athlete, with a baseball career over and 2 years as the starting QB for LSU.

[Tennessee Ted]

1992 Alabama Crimson Tide - Jay Barker was a sophomore who had played in 9 games as a freshman.

1994 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a sophomore.

1995 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a junior.

1996 Florida Gators - Danny Wuerffel was a senior.

1997 Tennessee Volunteers - Peyton Manning was a senior.

1998 Tennessee Volunteers - Tee Martin was a senior.

1999 Alabama Crimson Tide - Andrew Zow was a sophomore who played in 10 games as a freshman.

2000 Florida Gators - Rex Grossman was a redshirt freshman who spent the '99 season playing QB for the UF scout team.

2001 LSU Tigers - Rohan Davey was a senior.

2002 Georgia Bulldogs - David Greene was a sophomore who had actually started all of 2001 as a redshirt freshman.

2003 LSU Tigers - Matt Mauck was a junior.

2004 Auburn Tigers - Jason Campbell was a senior.

2005 Georgia Bulldogs - D.J. Shockley was a senior.

2006 Florida Gators - Chris Leak was a senior.

2007 LSU Tigers - Matt Flynn was a senior.


You forgot

2008 Alabama Crimson Tide - John Parker Wilson as a senior

Bamaperry has predicted it will happen so it is fact.

[BAMAPERRY]

Yeah, I did a typo with Manning, and accidentally put Martin both times. Thanks, I fixed it. I knew Mauck went to play baseball for 3 years. That only further makes my point, though. He redshirted in 2000, played sparingly in '01, and started for LSU in '02 and '03. By the time he won the SECCG, he was a seasoned athlete, with a baseball career over and 2 years as the starting QB for LSU.

I understand. I did the same post a couple of months back. Basically, your chances of winning the SEC with an underclassmen at QB isn't very good. I'll be hoping that changes next year, tho. :)

[sheluvsbama]

It was an interesting question to ponder. Quite thought provoking, so I was glad to see some answers. I couldn't think of a single freshman QB with this accomplishment when we discussed it earlier. There have been some credits to the soph's, though, but few and far between. Nice info!

[gatorunvrsty]

I understand. I did the same post a couple of months back. Basically, your chances of winning the SEC with an underclassmen at QB isn't very good. I'll be hoping that changes next year, tho. :)

Well, the current trend seems to be to play a couple of guys; one starter/regular and one situational. That seems to increase the underclassman's chances of bringing home the bacon, either as a sophomore or later on; so maybe Wilson's backup will get some snaps in preparation for next year.

Honestly, when I thought about it, I couldn't actually remember any freshmen who had pulled it off... I wasn't even sure about Wuerffel. I knew he didn't begin the season as the starter, but couldn't recall how soon he took over the starting spot. Rare feat... and we've had some pretty good college QB's roll through the conference in the last 16 years.

[GTTiger]

I agree that it isn't very likely, but with both of the expected leaders from the west playing young QB's, either one would only have to win one game assuming they make it to Atlanta.

Bradford pulled it off in the Big 12 last year =)

[CRUSTY]

Danny Wuerffel was one of my all time favorite QB's he would get blind sided bad the next play throw a 40 yard strike for touchdown.

[D^3]

I keep trying to tell this to the LSU/Auburn fans.

[thunderbird1100]

I keep trying to tell this to the LSU/Auburn fans.

A. LSU might not be starting Redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee. Might be starting Junior Andrew Hatch.

B. What LSU or Auburn fans are predicting to win the SEC next year?

[D^3]

A. LSU might not be starting Redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee. Might be starting Junior Andrew Hatch.

B. What LSU or Auburn fans are predicting to win the SEC next year?


A. You'd be better off with the freshman.... a junior transfer from Harvard with zero experience is just as bad.


B. Are you serious? The majority.

[thunderbird1100]

A. You'd be better off with the freshman.... a junior transfer from Harvard with zero experience is just as bad.


B. Are you serious? The majority.


A. Obviously you haven't seen him play. He reminds everyone of Matt Flynn. He's mobile, smart, doesn't make mistakes and shares the same common weakness with Flynn in not having that strong of an arm. And for the umteenth time, he was recruited by Gary Crowton to go to BYU, and he would of went there had Crowton stayed at BYU, instead, Crowton left BYU so he went on his Morman mission then went to Harvard. LSU wouldn't throw Hatch out there if he wasn't better or puts LSU in a better situation to win games over the 2 other 4-star QBs on our roster.

B. Link it up. I haven't seen any LSU or Auburn fans say they will definitely win the SEC next year. I have seen a couple say there's a chance of an UPSET in the SECCG over UF or UGA though. All you have to do is win that 1-game to be called SEC Champs.

[D^3]

A. Obviously you haven't seen him play. He reminds everyone of Matt Flynn. He's mobile, smart, doesn't make mistakes and shares the same common weakness with Flynn in not having that strong of an arm. And for the umteenth time, he was recruited by Gary Crowton to go to BYU, and he would of went there had Crowton stayed at BYU, instead, Crowton left BYU so he went on his Morman mission then went to Harvard. LSU wouldn't throw Hatch out there if he wasn't better or puts LSU in a better situation to win games over the 2 other 4-star QBs on our roster.

B. Link it up. I haven't seen any LSU or Auburn fans say they will definitely win the SEC next year. I have seen a couple say there's a chance of an UPSET in the SECCG over UF or UGA though. All you have to do is win that 1-game to be called SEC Champs.




I'm really tired of you blowing smoke up Andrew Hatch's ass. You're possible the ONLY LSU fan I've ever seen try and say he's going to be good. I think every other tiger fan is hoping that Lee gets the start... because even the homers know that Hatch isn't worth a damn in the SEC. You're dreaming if you think he's going to be any good.

[GTTiger]

I don't expect LSU to win the SEC. I think it's possible, but they definitly arn't the favorite. I would put Florida as the favorite because of the favorable schedule. I don't think Andrew Hatch will be very good, but he will be less likely to make the mistakes that Jarett Lee will make. LSU's RB's/WR's/ and O-Line are so good, that LSU really just needs a QB to not make mistakes. I still would rather see Jarrett Lee, but that's because he has a higher talent cieling.

[thunderbird1100]

I'm really tired of you blowing smoke up Andrew Hatch's ass. You're possible the ONLY LSU fan I've ever seen try and say he's going to be good. I think every other tiger fan is hoping that Lee gets the start... because even the homers know that Hatch isn't worth a damn in the SEC. You're dreaming if you think he's going to be any good.

When did I say he's going to be good? I said he's just like Matt Flynn, and it's not like Flynn was a world beater. All I'm saying is unlike you, who are basing everything off him being a transfer from Harvard, he has everything he needs to be successful in our offense next year. Check out this video on him...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=W6BDcJ4WvHw

Obviously he's not going to throw for 3000 yards. Obviously he's not going to rush for 500+ yards. He's a QB just like Flynn. Smart, tends to make good decisions, is mobile but not "dual-threat" (ie, 4.7ish speed). He has everything he needs to be successful in LSU's offense next year. He has a veteran very good OL to block for him. He has veteran very good RBs and FB to block and put him in easier down situations. He has veteran very good WRs and a TE to throw to. The reason why he wanted to play for Crowton so much because he fits perfectly in Crowton's system. It takes his arm strength out of the equation as Crowton's system is all about the short passing game (getting the ball in your playmakers hands early). It's not difficult for most QBs to throw screens and short slants. Which is what Crowton's passing game is all about.

Once again, do you REALLY think the coaches would play him if he was that much worse than Jefferson or Lee? Or put LSU in that much worse of a situation to win a game?