The '08 Buckeyes: Quarterback Analysis

It was more than a year ago when we kicked off this blog with a post breaking down the 2007 quarterbacks. How did we do? Well, we were right that Todd Boeckman would get the early nod and run with it. We knew Rob Schoenhoft and Antonio Henton would get a crack at early playing time. We also called Joe Bauserman as the fourth QB on the roster, walking on. And we did mention some kid name Pryor that turned out to be an okay recruit.

But what surprised about 2007? Mainly that Antonio Henton didn't make more of run at it. I personally thought his athleticism would give him an edge over Boeckman, and that he'd force his way onto the field for at least scripted run-pass option plays. But his season was derailed when he was arrested for solicitation. Though charges were later dropped, he never seemed to recover. Boeckman took the reins and had a pretty good season for a first year starter. I say "first year starter" instead of "old enough to be the Dad of some of the players".

What's going this season? Boeckman comes in as the unquestioned starter. He's a senior it seems difficult to envision any scenario in which he relinquishes the #1 spot on the depth chart. That being said, there are two schools of thought on Todd. The first is that he exceeded expectations as a first year player and has all of the tools to lead the Buckeyes to championship. No, he's not Dan Marino, but he's good good size and arm strength, he knows the system and can efficiently run it.

The other side of the story is somewhat less complimentary. They see Boeckman a good but not great quarterback that has some potential holes in his game. He can get happy feet in the pocket, locks onto receivers, and sometimes gets careless, turning it over in bunches. Is this just a game manager, relying on his experience and the talent around him? Will he be able to win the big games?

The truth is probably in between, and is a subject I'm planning to cover at length in the near future. Boeckman's legacy will be judged entirely on three games this season - at USC, home against Michigan, the bowl game. Run the table and join Craig Krenzel in Buckeye lore. Fail to beat USC and listen to people call for your head.

What about the other guys? Everyone will want to know what's going on with Terrelle Pryor from the minute he steps on campus. Best case scenario, he uses his unbelievable skills to bust some big plays in limited action this season. It's another headache defensive coordinators will have to prepare for, and Pryor is definitely a difference maker. I just don't see that a redshirt is possible for Pryor - he's going to come in very prepared to run some specific plays. And even if you know what's coming, he's too good to stop.

Even with a returning senior starter and the #1 recruit, the talk of the spring game was Joe Bauserman. The former baseball player had a great game, connecting on a few long passes with Taurian Washington, leading to some love from ESPN. It's clear he's passed Henton on the depth chart; the latter is in danger of falling out of contention. With Pryor's arrival this fall, it is imperative that Henton make strides between now and then. One of these two guys must develop into a legitimate option, with Boeckman graduating. Right now the guess is that Bauserman sticks around and is the #2 in 2009.

From a recruiting standpoint, the Buckeyes would like to add a QB to the '09 class. With Pryor just a true freshman, getting an elite guy might be a chore. The top name right now is Victor Marc (FL), the only QB that has been offered at this point. He's a bigger bodied QB, and holds offers from Clemson, UNC, and South Carolina. Look for the Buckeyes to be very selective this year.