RedRaiderSports.com - Ranking the opposition: Quarterbacks

May 12, 2009

Joe Yeager
RedRaiderSports.com Senior Writer

The Red Raiders will face a veritable murderer's row of quarterbacks in 2009. They include a Heisman Trophy winner, a Heisman Trophy finalist, a world class hurdler and future first round draft pick, and a variety of school record holders. Tech's defense looks to be improved; it will need to be.

12. NORTH DAKOTA, Jake Landry - Led his high school team to the state championship in North Dakota's AAA classification, and was first-team All State his senior season. Played in only four games as a backup last year, but completed three of four passes, one of which went for a 61-yard touchdown against Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

11. RICE, Nick Fanuzzi - The Owls have high hopes for this transfer from Alabama. Fanuzzi was a highly touted schoolboy player in San Antonio, and was ranked as the nation's 18th best dual-threat quarterback by Rivals. Played in the 2007 U.S. Army All American game. Played in one game for the Crimson Tide in 2007. Should be a good fit in Rice's harum-scarum offense.

10. KANSAS STATE, Carson Coffman - Brother of former Missouri All-American tight end Chase Coffman. Backed up Josh Freeman a year ago and completed 25 of 41 passes with two interceptions and a touchdown. Is regarded as a highly intelligent player and a good leader.

9. NEW MEXICO, Donovan Porterie - Former schoolboy star in Port Arthur and teammate of former Texas running back Jamaal Charles. In 2005 Rivals rated him the third best quarterback in the state and the No. 17 quarterback nationally. Owing to an ACL/MCL injury, Porterie played in only four games a year ago, but completed 67-percent of his passes. He also threw five interceptions with no touchdowns. When healthy, he's a smooth quarterback.

8. NEBRASKA, Zac Lee - Lee should get a crack at running the show in Lincoln after transferring from San Francisco City College where he was the consensus best JUCO quarterback in the land two years ago. Lee competed in only two games a year ago. He is a mobile, strong-armed quarterback.

7. HOUSTON, Case Keenum - When the Red Raiders meet the Cougars both signal callers will be juniors from Abilene. Houston's Keenum attended Wiley high school while Tech's Taylor Potts is an Abilene High alum. Keenum had a very good sophomore campaign, completing 67-percent of his passes for 5,020 yards with 44 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Keenum also rushed for 221 yards and seven TDs.

6. KANSAS, Todd Reesing - A mobile quarterback with a very quick release, Reesing was better as a sophomore than a junior. If he returns to the form of two years ago when he led the Jayhawks to their best season in school history, he'll be one of the very best quarterbacks Tech will see.

5. OKLAHOMA STATE, Zac Robinson - Had the fifth best passer rating in the Football Bowl Subdivision a year ago, although he was more impressive early in the season then later. Holds several Oklahoma State school records, and with a strong senior season, will own virtually every school record that a quarterback can possess. Robinson does not wow you with his athletic ability, but he gets the job done.

4. TEXAS A&M, Jerrod Johnson - Johnson will be the biggest quarterback the Red Raiders will face in 2009 and his size allows Johnson to shrug off would-be tacklers and also see downfield better than most quarterbacks. Took over for an injured Stephen McGee a year ago and kept the fourth-round draft pick on the bench. Tossed 21 touchdown passes, which is a school record. Johnson is a talented quarterback who has the potential to blossom in 2009.

3. BAYLOR, Robert Griffin ? Not only is Griffin the most athletic quarterback Tech will see in 2009, he is the best football athlete in the Big 12. Griffin has world-class speed and is extremely agile to boot. He's not yet a top-flight passer, but he's getting there. The only thing that makes Griffin manageable is the fact that he's not surrounded by excellent talent.

2. TEXAS, Colt McCoy - Heisman Trophy finalist as a junior and one of the favorites to take home that primo hardware in 2009. McCoy is a tremendous all-around quarterback. His arm is capable of striking all corners of the field, he's a dangerous scrambler, particularly up the middle of the field, and is a veteran leader who usually ? but not always - finds a way to win close ballgames.

1. OKLAHOMA, Sam Bradford - Only the second player in college football history to win the Heisman Trophy as a sophomore. Obviously, Bradford is a quarterback who has the whole package. He's tall, strong-armed, accurate and intelligent. Bradford is not, however, terribly mobile, and if a defense can pressure Bradford, his effectiveness diminishes noticeably. It will be interesting to see how he performs behind a totally retooled offensive line.

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