Like Georgia’s Stetson Bennett Last Season, TCU’s Max Duggan Did Not Begin This Season As Starting QB

Sonny Dykes didn’t title a beginning quarterback forward of TCU’s season opener at Colorado. The coach, in his first yr with the Horned Frogs after 4 seasons at SMU, performed it near the vest saying that three quarterbacks would obtain taking part in time.

After TCU took the sector in Boulder, it was Chandler Morris who trotted out to guide the offense. Morris, son of former Arkansas and SMU coach Chad Morris, transferred from Oklahoma following the 2020 season and made two begins in 2021. In his first begin, rather than the injured (foot) Max Duggan, he totaled 531 yards in main the Horned Frogs to an upset of No. 12 Baylor.

As eye-opening because the efficiency in opposition to Baylor was, issues went downhill the next week when Morris internet all of 100 whole yards in a 63-17 embarrassment at Oklahoma State. Duggan then began the Horned Frogs’ final two video games of 2021.

Throughout fall camp, and with a brand new teaching workers that included Dykes and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, who joined the previous in Fort Value after two seasons in the identical capability at SMU, a quarterback battle between Duggan and Morris, in addition to redshirt freshman Sam Jackson, performed out. Duggan was simply probably the most skilled having began 29 video games in his first three seasons with TCU.

All three quarterbacks noticed time in a 38-13 win at Colorado, although definitely not in a method Dykes deliberate. A knee damage within the third quarter compelled Morris to sideline. Duggan got here on and led a pair of scoring drives to seal the victory. Jackson shined whereas mopping up.

With Morris sidelined, Duggan took over the offense the next week in opposition to Tarleton State and put collectively a season that resulted in ending second within the Heisman voting.

Duggan, who declared for the NFL draft in December, enters Monday night time’s nationwide championship sport in opposition to Georgia tenth nationally in landing passes (32) and move effectivity. He has additionally rushed for eight touchdowns and has totaled precisely 100 touchdowns in his profession with the Horned Frogs.

Morris? The knee damage rendered him unavailable for a few weeks earlier than seeing motion in two convention matchups. He has tried 26 passes. To his credit score, Morris caught with this system and intends to stay in Fort Value to compete for the beginning job once more subsequent season.

The scenario at Georgia final season was far completely different. Accidents didn’t play a job in figuring out the quarterback who led the Bulldogs to the promised land. Relatively, it was a season-long debate over who Kirby Sensible ought to anoint to guide the offense, JT Daniels or Stetson Bennett. The previous arrived in 2020 from USC, the place he struggled with accidents. The latter was constantly doubted about his capacity to guide the offense.

Even heading into Georgia’s School Soccer Playoff semifinal in opposition to Michigan there was nonetheless some query, no less than externally. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken left little doubt who the Bulldogs have been going with, saying Bennett gave them the most effective probability to win.

Having to determine the No. 1 sign caller forward of such an enormous sport was removed from superb. Nonetheless, Bennett silenced the critics together with his efficiency in opposition to the Wolverines by throwing the primary of his three landing passes solely 4 minutes into the sport, which the previous walk-on and his teammates dominated from the coin toss.

Within the nationwide championship sport in opposition to Alabama, who UGA misplaced to within the SEC championship, Bennett had a expensive turnover resulting in a landing that gave the Crimson Tide an 18-13 lead with 10:14 remaining within the fourth quarter.

Bennett’s character and dedication, to not point out a pair of landing passes, took middle stage the remainder of the best way as Georgia scored 20 straight factors to win their first nationwide championship in 4 a long time.

There was no debate this season over who the beginning quarterback can be. No less than not since a few week after the nationwide championship sport when Bennett introduced he was returning to Athens for a closing season.

Bennett enters his second nationwide title sport having thrown for 3,823 yards with 23 touchdowns (plus eight on the bottom) and solely seven interceptions in 429 makes an attempt.