However, QB success depends on solid receivers
The quarterback spot is the most high-profile position on any football team. So when the starting job is up for grabs, everyone is watching and waiting to see who will stand out from the others.
The Buffs have three candidates bidding for the job: senior Bernard Jackson, redshirt freshman Cody Hawkins and junior Nick Nelson, a transfer from a junior college.
Jackson was the starter last year for the Buffs, but his lack of consistency and a 2-10 finish for the team has left the quarterback position open to Hawkins and Nelson.
Jackson is the veteran, Hawkins is the quarterback of the future and Nelson is the underdog.
After the first couple of days of spring practice for the Buffs, Nelson is adapting to the spring practices well and has a legitimate chance of being the Buffs’ gunslinger in the fall. Head coach Dan Hawkins talked about Nelson’s first couple of days of practice.
“Well, I think that he has done well. What I think you are going to see with him is he’s going to do even better as we get pads on and play some real football,” coach Hawkins said.
One thing that is for sure is that the Buffs need to find the right quarterback to fit the style of offense the team runs. Coach Hawkins also talked about how Nelson is starting to pick things up on offense.
“I think he is picking everything up really well. You know he can throw the football, and I think he’s going to be fine when he gets some pads on,” Hawkins said.
Among the three candidates, Jackson is by far the most mobile. Last season, he rushed for 677 net yards and averaged 4.4 yards per attempt. But Jackson completed just less than 50 percent of his passes last year and threw only seven touchdown passes.
Hawkins and Nelson both have stronger arms than Jackson, but the inexperience both players have can be a problem.
Nelson talked about the competition among the three players and the impact it will have on each one through the course of the year.
“It’s a lot of fun actually. All of us love competing. We’re real competitive guys, and all three of us thrive under competition,” Nelson said. “I think it’s making all of us much better players, and whoever gets the job will definitely deserve it.”
But the passing game needs effective wide receivers in order to be productive.
The wide receiver slots will be very competitive as seniors Dusty Sprague, Alvin Barnett and Stephone Robinson are looking to step-up. Also in the mix are juniors Cody Crawford and Patrick Williams.
Both Barnett and Robinson showed some flash on Tuesday night by burning the coverage in a couple of drills.
The fact still remains that the Buffs’ passing game has to be better this year for the team to be successful. The team will continue spring training this week and will have its first scrimmage Saturday.
