Position Group Rankings Part 7 - Quarterbacks

[BillySee58]

Losses: Andrew Mcnulty, Damarcus Smith, Josh Greer

Top Returners: None

Additions: Grad Transfer QB Alec Morris, HS QB Mason Fine

Other returning scholarship players: SO QB Connor Means, FR QB Caleb Chumley

Here's the last part in this series I've been doing, as we start spring ball this week. 

QB was the most glaring weakness of the Mccarney era, when it came to recruiting. During the Mccarney era he signed nine quarterbacks in his five recruiting classes between 2011 and 2015. Those quarterbacks have combined to go 5-20 in 25 starts for North Texas, with awful statistical numbers as well. Early on it appears Littrell is already starting over fresh, with all three QBs who attempted passes last season now being gone.

The overwhelming favorite to start at QB is Alabama grad transfer QB Alec Morris. Morris, just like every other QB on our roster, has yet to throw a pass in love game action since high school. However, Morris was very much in the QB competition at Alabama this fall before losing out to Jacob Coker and Cooper Bateman. That alone puts his college accomplishments far above the other guys we have.

The plan will likely be to have Morris play every meaningful snap of all 12 games this year. If that can happen, the lack of depth might not be a big deal. However, if Morris can't get things done or gets injured, we might be looking at some rough results.

As for the other QBs, Connor Means has yet to even make any noise on the depth chart. The same can be said for Caleb Chumley as well, who appears to be more fit to play another position but still has time and a chance to stake his claim at QB. Walkon Quinn Shanbour also appears to have a shot to compete for the backup spot. True freshman Mason Fine may redshirt or he may be asked to be the backup if that situation can't be solved in the spring.

The potentially good thing for us this year is that if Morris can play well and stay healthy then this could be a strength. But the lack of depth hurts knowing that things don't usually work out ideally, especially in football and here at UNT.  I originally had accounted for Damarcus Smith being the backup, so I had QB 5th, although it could easily be argued that they should be lower.

Position group rank: 5th

 

UNT unit rankings in review:

1st - Running Backs

2nd - Offensive Line

3rd - Defensive Backs

4th - Defensive Line

5th - Quarterbacks

6th - Linebackers

7th - Wide Receivers

[Army of Dad]

1 hour ago, BillySee58 said:

 

The overwhelming favorite to start at QB is Alabama grad transfer QB Alec Morris. Morris, just like every other QB on our roster, has yet to throw a pass in love game action since high school.

After four years in college I would be willing to bet he threw at least one pass in the love game.

 

 

(gotta have some fun after hearing all the bad news coming out of Bonnie Brea)

Edited March 21, 2016 by Army of Dad

[MEANGREENCOACH2]

Even with Smith, the QB group should be last in the rankings.

[Aldo]

1 hour ago, BillySee58 said:

Morris, just like every other QB on our roster, has yet to throw a pass in love game action since high school.

 

50 minutes ago, Army of Dad said:

After four years in college I would be willing to bet her threw at least one pass in the love game.

This is a family show!

With the Smith departure, I think WR and QB ranks could be swapped.

Hope Morris can show that he can deal with CUSA level play. Very curious on what Shanbour can show, as a runner and as the most accurate of the backups (and dare I say Morris?).

[Army of Dad]

19 minutes ago, Aldo said:

 

This is a family show!

With the Smith departure, I think WR and QB ranks could be swapped.

Hope Morris can show that he can deal with CUSA level play. Very curious on what Shanbour can show, as a runner and as the most accurate of the backups (and dare I say Morris?).

That line might be a Rorschach test, as dirty as the reader makes it out to be!

[GrayEagle]

You can say most anything as long as it's a question.

For those of you that say Morris has lost his skills, dare I say that if that were the case he would not have remained on scholarship at Alabama.  

For those of you enamored with ranking numbers, Alec Morris had a 247 composite average of .8701, the third highest on the team.  Only Texas Tech transfer Trey Keenan (.8798) and incoming JC linebacker Will Johnson at .8707 have had a higher number.  After Morris comes Bryce English at .8556, almost a point and a half lower.  By the way, note that #5, Kevin Dillman, as well as the four above have not played for North Texas yet.  Those and Nic Smith (#7) are part of what I base my hope for improvement this coming year.

[Aldo]

19 minutes ago, GrayEagle said:

For those of you that say Morris has lost his skills, dare I say that if that were the case he would not have remained on scholarship at Alabama.  

Don't think anyone has said he has lost his skill. He just hasn't had the chance to show what he can do in real games.

So we don't know how those skills that gave him a Bama scholarship will translate here, as there's not really a point of reference.

Best we can do is conjecture, which is a lot more fun than saying I dunno or temper your expectations.

[Tyler Maryak]

3 hours ago, Army of Dad said:

After four years in college I would be willing to bet he threw at least one pass in the love game.

 

 

(gotta have some fun after hearing all the bad news coming out of Bonnie Brea)

Edited March 21, 2016 by Tyler Maryak

[untjim1995]

On ‎3‎/‎21‎/‎2016 at 11:14 AM, BillySee58 said:

Losses: Andrew Mcnulty, Damarcus Smith, Josh Greer

Top Returners: None

Additions: Grad Transfer QB Alec Morris, HS QB Mason Fine

Other returning scholarship players: SO QB Connor Means, FR QB Caleb Chumley

Here's the last part in this series I've been doing, as we start spring ball this week. 

QB was the most glaring weakness of the Mccarney era, when it came to recruiting. During the Mccarney era he signed nine quarterbacks in his five recruiting classes between 2011 and 2015. Those quarterbacks have combined to go 5-20 in 25 starts for North Texas, with awful statistical numbers as well. Early on it appears Littrell is already starting over fresh, with all three QBs who attempted passes last season now being gone.

The overwhelming favorite to start at QB is Alabama grad transfer QB Alec Morris. Morris, just like every other QB on our roster, has yet to throw a pass in love game action since high school. However, Morris was very much in the QB competition at Alabama this fall before losing out to Jacob Coker and Cooper Bateman. That alone puts his college accomplishments far above the other guys we have.

The plan will likely be to have Morris play every meaningful snap of all 12 games this year. If that can happen, the lack of depth might not be a big deal. However, if Morris can't get things done or gets injured, we might be looking at some rough results.

As for the other QBs, Connor Means has yet to even make any noise on the depth chart. The same can be said for Caleb Chumley as well, who appears to be more fit to play another position but still has time and a chance to stake his claim at QB. Walkon Quinn Shanbour also appears to have a shot to compete for the backup spot. True freshman Mason Fine may redshirt or he may be asked to be the backup if that situation can't be solved in the spring.

The potentially good thing for us this year is that if Morris can play well and stay healthy then this could be a strength. But the lack of depth hurts knowing that things don't usually work out ideally, especially in football and here at UNT.  I originally had accounted for Damarcus Smith being the backup, so I had QB 5th, although it could easily be argued that they should be lower.

Position group rank: 5th

 

UNT unit rankings in review:

1st - Running Backs

2nd - Offensive Line

3rd - Defensive Backs

4th - Defensive Line

5th - Quarterbacks

6th - Linebackers

7th - Wide Receivers

Good write-up...Just to be sarcastic, I'd suggest that we should label McNulty, Greer, and Damarcus Smith as another term than "losses"...maybe call them guys who are gone. We didn't lose anything with any of them leaving, except that they were all losers...

Edited March 22, 2016 by untjim1995

[GrandGreen]

I think Morris immediately upgrades the QB position.  However, the hope that he or any other QB goes through a year uninjured is problematic.  There must be a viable replacement on the team, and right now I don't see it.  One thing that is always true, is that many fans always think the answer is some unproven QB that has rarely or never seen the field in an actual game.   Usually, those players lose most fan appeal if they actually play.   

The wild card this year, is the new staff just much better in developing QB's?  Obviously, I can't see anyone worse than the previous staff.  Also will the receiver corp be better?  Frankly, with a few exceptions; the NT receivers under McCarney have been very suspect.   The receivers have to substantially improve, or no QB is going to be successful.  

I would rate the QB position last in the units entering spring training.  There is less depth than any other position, and all hope relies on Morris actually being good and remaining heathy throughout the season.  

[Tyler Maryak]

Any change in your assessment after seeing the dead ducks flying yesterday?  Lol

[Mike Jackson]

On March 21, 2016 at 11:14 AM, BillySee58 said:

 

 

UNT unit rankings in review:

1st - Running Backs

2nd - Offensive Line

3rd - Defensive Backs

4th - Defensive Line

5th - Quarterbacks

6th - Linebackers

7th - Wide Receivers

I these position ranking are accurate it don't bode well for optimistic fans of the Mean Green.  Especially since Defensive Line and Secondary were pretty bad last year.  You have QB and Wide Receivers ranked behind two pretty bad cores last year.  With an "Air Raid" offense having WR and QB near the bottom as position group sound like doom.  I hope you are wrong or that Defensive Line and Defensive backs are much better than I think they are.  Otherwise this gone to be a long season.

Edited March 29, 2016 by Mike Jackson

[foutsrouts]

On 3/23/2016 at 10:09 AM, GrandGreen said:

I think Morris immediately upgrades the QB position.  However, the hope that he or any other QB goes through a year uninjured is problematic.  There must be a viable replacement on the team, and right now I don't see it.  One thing that is always true, is that many fans always think the answer is some unproven QB that has rarely or never seen the field in an actual game.   Usually, those players lose most fan appeal if they actually play.   

The wild card this year, is the new staff just much better in developing QB's?  Obviously, I can't see anyone worse than the previous staff.  Also will the receiver corp be better?  Frankly, with a few exceptions; the NT receivers under McCarney have been very suspect.   The receivers have to substantially improve, or no QB is going to be successful.  

I would rate the QB position last in the units entering spring training.  There is less depth than any other position, and all hope relies on Morris actually being good and remaining heathy throughout the season.  

Huge problem, which is why I really hate Smith's departure. Shanbour better surprise if needed. At least if we expect to win a few.

[North Texas Shep]

QB last place. We got nothing proved at the most important postion on the field.