Quarterback battles are sometimes probably the most fascinating a part of the school soccer offseason. Particularly in an period the place the switch portal and the promise of speedy playtime elsewhere has made it extraordinarily troublesome to have a stable succession plan in place. 

Although coaches would like to have issues settled properly earlier than the precise season begins, quarterback competitions typically stretch deep into the autumn. Some are nonetheless ongoing when the precise video games kick off as groups will use early season tune-up contests to see if one sign caller can pull forward of the opposite in a dwell setting. 

Now, getting into the final week of fall camp for a majority of faculties across the nation, loads of distinguished packages have selected a quarterback. Ohio State and Wisconsin have recognized their offensive leaders as every tries to make a big effect within the Massive Ten. 

Elsewhere, School Soccer Playoff competitor Boise State went with a fairly shocking resolution for its quarterback. The Broncos have been certainly one of many Group of 5 faculties that determined to go along with a extra skilled possibility over thrilling new switch portal additions. 

There’s nonetheless lots to be settled, however this is a rundown of the quarterback battles which have been determined because the 2024 season nears. 

Ohio State 

It wasn’t essentially a shock, however Ohio State formally turned to Kansas State switch Will Howard to information its offense. Howard did should surpass some stiff competitors, primarily from returning backup Devin Brown and fellow switch addition Julian Sayin (Alabama), nevertheless it’s been fairly obvious from Day 1 that Ohio State introduced Howard in to win the quarterback job. 

Now that it is official, Howard brings an fascinating dimension to Ohio State’s offense. He is probably not the prolific passer that we have grown used to donning the scarlet and gray, however he does carry the physicality that Ryan Day has desired from his group lately. 

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Howard is a hard-nosed runner that is troublesome to sort out when he will get a head of steam. He rushed for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Wildcats and may match what new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly needs to do offensively very properly. 

USC

USC named Miller Moss its beginning quarterback following a prolonged battle that bled into preseason camp. Moss served as Caleb Williams’ backup over the past two seasons and made his lone begin within the 2023 Vacation Bowl towards Louisville, the place he set a bowl document with six landing passes as a part of a 372-yard day within the 42-28 victory. 

Moss was seen because the heavy favourite to succeed the previous Heisman Trophy winner and beat out UNLV switch Jayden Maiava, who joined the Trojans after initially committing to Georgia out of the portal. Maiava handed for 3,085 yards with 17 touchdowns throughout his true freshmen marketing campaign for the Rebels..

Former Texas quarterback Maalik Murphy was named Duke’s beginning quarterback on Monday. Murphy will exchange Riley Leonard, who transferred this offseason to Notre Dame. Murphy made two begins final season for the Longhorns in Quinn Ewers’ absence and threw for 477 yards and three touchdowns.

Murphy was seen as a high-upside addition for first-year coach Manny Diaz due to his prolific arm power. The Southern California native was a top-200 participant popping out of highschool within the 247Sports rankings and was the Fortieth-ranked switch obtainable.

Wisconsin 

Tyler Van Dyke as soon as appeared like the subsequent huge factor in faculty soccer earlier than accidents and inconsistency set him again a bit at Miami. So he determined to enter the NCAA switch portal and take his abilities to Wisconsin the place the hope is that offensive coordinator Phil Longo — prolific for his high-flying offenses — can revitalize Van Dyke’s profession a bit. 

Van Dyke may have the prospect to make a splash within the Massive Ten after beating Braedyn Locke, who began three video games for the Badgers final season, for the beginning quarterback job. Some stability may gain advantage Van Dyke after he performed for 3 completely different offensive coordinators in three years at Miami. 

Michigan State switch Sam Leavitt will enter the 2024 season as Arizona State’s beginning quarterback, in line with ESPN. Leavitt gained out towards fellow switch Jeff Sims, who had beginning expertise from Nebraska and Georgia Tech, and Trenton Bourguet, a five-game starter for the Solar Devils final season. 

Leavitt brings probably the most upside amongst ASU’s choices. The previous four-star prospect out of West Linn, Oregon, performed sparingly as a real freshman at Michigan State however accomplished a good 15 of his 23 go makes an attempt for 139 yards and two touchdowns. 

Baylor’s offense has an opportunity to be actually thrilling once more. The Bears are anticipated to call Toledo switch DeQuan Finn as their beginning quarterback, in line with CBS Sports activities’ Matt Zenitz, giving new offensive coordinator Jake Spavital one of many Massive 12’s most fun choices on the place. 

Finn, who has been competing with junior Sawyer Robertson, was the 2023 MAC MVP at Toledo after amassing 3,220 complete yards and 29 touchdowns, seven of which got here on the bottom. He is a risk to harm defenses by a number of areas of the sport and ought to be a enjoyable watch as he makes the soar in competitors. 

Boise State 

One of many first real surprises of the offseason, Maddux Madsen was named Boise State’s beginning quarterback over former five-star prospect Malachi Nelson. Most assumed that the job was Nelson’s when he dedicated to the Broncos after leaving USC, however Madsen had a powerful spring and fall getting into his third yr in Boise. 

Madsen did play loads as a redshirt freshman final season, finishing 81 passes for 1,191 yards and 9 touchdowns. In his first (and solely, to date) profession begin towards New Mexico, he logged 202 yards and two touchdowns passing with no turnovers. 

Nonetheless, Nelson is at the least one of many nation’s most intriguing backups. He was the No. 13 total prospect and No. 5 quarterback within the class of 2023. Not a foul hand to show to in a pinch. 

San Diego State enters the Sean Lewis period with a real freshman behind heart, because the Aztecs are turning to 2024 signee Danny O’Neil to orchestrate the offense. O’Neil outlasted Florida State switch AJ Duffy, a former four-star prospect within the Class of 2022, to earn the respect. 

O’Neil is at the least accustomed to Lewis. The 6-foot sign caller out of Indianapolis, Indiana, was as soon as dedicated to Colorado, the place Lewis was the offensive coordinator on Deion Sanders’ inaugural workers in 2023. 

In a battle of the transfers, former Miami and Missouri quarterback Jake Garcia beat former Michigan State quarterback Katin Houser to earn the beginning job at East Carolina. Bought to like the conditions that come up in trendy faculty soccer. 

Garcia did not play at Missouri final yr however he does carry some beginning expertise from two seasons at Miami. He threw for 859 yards and 7 touchdowns from 2021-22, with most of his work coming in 2022 as Van Dyke handled accidents. 

There appears to be a development amongst Mountain West faculties the place incumbents are beating the flashy new Energy 4 quarterback transfers. Brendon Lewis, a former Colorado switch in his personal proper who began 10 video games for the Wolfpack in 2023, held off Nebraska switch Chubba Purdy to retain his spot atop the depth chart. 

Lewis is not the perfect passer — he had simply 1,313 yards and two touchdowns to 6 interceptions final season — however he’s a dynamic risk that may affect the sport together with his legs. He completed second amongst Nevada’s rushers final season with 495 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

Kent State had a rotating door at quarterback final season because it went 1-11, so the hope is that new starter Devin Kargman can at the least present some stability. He edged out Tommy Ulatowski, who had three begins and completed second on the group in passing in 2023. 

Kargman was first off the bench in Kent State’s season finale towards Northern Illinois and had arguably the perfect efficiency amongst Kent State’s quarterbacks all yr, finishing 16 of his 28 passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns.