The pressure to win now has created a difficult atmosphere for both coaches and players as they are asked to produce from the moment they are thrust in to the spotlight at their respective schools. No position on the football field feels that pressure more than the quarterback position and that has led to some talented passers being replaced before they get a real opportunity to live up to their potential. However, the need at the position has led to some of those quarterbacks getting a second chance to prove they can perform at an elite level. Here is a look at four quarterbacks primed to make the most out of their second chances this season.
J.T. Barrett
Ohio State Buckeyes
Barrett is a former Heisman trophy contender that will have every opportunity to regain his 2014 form and help lead Ohio State to a Big Ten title this coming season. Barrett accounted for 34 passing touchdowns and 11 rushing touchdowns after he replaced injured starter Braxton Millet two years ago, but he broke his ankle in the regular season finale and that opened the door for Cardale Jones to get his opportunity. Jones and Barrett split time at the position last year but neither looked comfortable the entire year and the poor quarterback play certainly contributed to the Buckeyes failing to meet their lofty expectations. Barrett enters this season as Ohio State’s unquestioned starter and he will be relied on to make the most out of his second chance as the leader of an offense that is loaded with talent but relatively short on experience. We already saw what him and the Buckeyes offense are capable as they hung 77 points on Bowling Green in the opening game of the season.
Trevor Knight
Texas A&M Aggies
It wasn’t long ago that Knight was leading the Oklahoma Sooners to a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama. However, a spine injury in the 2014 season forced him to miss some time and after struggling in his first couple of games back in the lineup he was eventually replaced by top another top prospect in Baker Mayfield. Mayfield thrived as the Sooners’ starting quarterback and suddenly Knight was looking for a new home. He found it this offseason when Texas A&M came looking for a starter and it could be the perfect fit. The Aggies will look to take full advantage of Knight’s big arm and mobility with his legs. A&M has some intriguing weapons at the skill positions on offense and Knight’s ability as a dual-threat quarterback could help maximize the potential of the talent the Aggies have on offense. They had a good start to the season by upsetting No. 16 UCLA in Week 1.
Kenny Hill
TCU Horned Frogs
Hill’s exit from A&M helped open the door for Knight to get his second chance. Meanwhile, Hill will look to make the most of his opportunity after transferring to TCU. The Horned Frogs have a ton of talent at the skill positions but they need an effective quarterback to maximize the potential of their weapons on offense. Hill completed 66.7-percent of his passes for 2,649 yards and 23 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions back in 2014 and after sitting out all of 2015 he now has an excellent opportunity to make the most out of his second chance at TCU.
Davis Webb
California Golden Bears
Webb showed flashes of his incredible dual-threat ability as both as passer and rusher when he was the starting quarterback at Texas Tech in 2013 and 2014. After falling out of favor with the Red Raiders, Webb took the opportunity to make the jump to California where he played limited snaps last season. Webb enters 2016 as the unquestioned starter in the Golden Bears’ offense and his unique combination of size, speed and a very strong arm should make him the perfect fit with what the coaches want to do at Cal. There are some that feel Webb has the potential to emerge as one of the top quarterbacks in the country this season and while that might seem like an unrealistic expectation there is no doubt that he has a real opportunity to make the most out of his second chance in the Pac-12 this season.
