Big South QBs 2016

[bjtheflamesfan]

We kick off the 6th year of position previews with the triggermen, and while I said that there arn't going to be a ton of surprises, there are big changes under center for a few of the remaining programs, starting with the defending champs:

Charleston Southern

Kyle Copeland
Robert Mitchell

(would one of the CSU fans be able to help me find the archive stats from last year?)


UAB transfer Austin Brown moves on after taking the Bucs to their first outright Big South title and a trip to the FCS quarterfinals. It will be up to juniors Copeland and Mitchell to lead the way for the offense and help the bevy of freshmen at the position along.

Gardner-Webb
Tyrell Maxwell 88-181 910 Yds 7 TDs 7 INT
Brody Rollins 13-23 81 Yds 0 TDs 1 INT

Maxwell returns as the alpha dog with this group, coming a year off a season that was highlighted by an upset win over Liberty in Boiling Springs. The junior dual threat QB could make a play for all-conference with the inexperience with one of the top 2 teams remaining in the conference. Rollins made a few appearances, beating out junior Kyle Arrington heading into 2015

Kennesaw State
Trey White 49-103 1059 Yds 8 TDs 6 INT
Jake McKenzie 27-54 408 Yds 1 TD 0 INT

The Owls, running mostly triple option in their first year, showed a surprising amount of success throwing the ball, highlighted by returning redshirt senior White, who also is the team's leading returning rusher. McKenzie offered a nice spell for White when he came in, mostly as a runner.

Liberty
Stephon Masha 2-3 11 Yds 0 TDs 0 INT
Rud Yearick no 2015 Stats

The Flames graduated one of the most prolific passers in Big South history with the departure of Josh Woodrum, now with the Indianapolis Colts. The downside to his establishment as the #1 QB is the fact that there was very little production behind him at the position...but the guy who goes into training camp as the starter is no slouch, as Masha did lead Liberty to their first ever playoff win over JMU in 2014. The interesting battle will be who backs him up, as Yearick, who enrolled in January, battles with fellow freshman Stephen Calvert and returning QB Bo Swanson for the #2 spot

Monmouth
Cody Williams 182-311 1868 Yds 12 TDs 11 INT
Devin Ray No 2015 Stats

Williams surprised with his performance as a true freshman, winning the starting job an coming just short of a 2000 yard season. If he can keep his INTs down he could be a player for all-conference in 2016. The real question will be who backs him up with former Rutgers QB Ray having not thrown a pass since 2014, a true freshman and two QBS who have not appeared in a game for the Hawks.

Presbyterian
Ben Cheek 30-79 277 Yds 2 TDs 6 INT
Will Brock No 2015 Stats

This is Cheek's team after splitting with seniors Tamyn Garrick and Kaleb Griffin. As with Monmouth and Liberty, the question will be who will be the backup when the Hose head to Detroit to face Central Michigan. My pick is junior Brock as the most experienced, but it will be an interesting battle down in Clinton to be sure.

Rankings

1. Tyrell Maxwell, GWU
2. Stephon Masha, LU
3. Cody Williams, MU
4. Kyle Copeland, CSU
5. Trey White, KSU
6. Ben Cheek, PC

[KSUOWLS]

Thanks, BJ. Nice write-up.

Looking forward to additional insight into the Big South.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

Good work.