Quarterback
Of course, one of the top stories during the 2005 college football season was the emergence of Brady Quinn under Weis. Quinn sort of muddled along his first two seasons before a breakout junior year that made him the frontrunner for the Heisman Trophy as a senior.
Jimmy Clausen has had a similar ride in his first two seasons, showing some flashes of brilliance with some bonehead decisions. So if history is any indicator, perhaps Clausen’s third season will be his breakout year as Quinn’s was.
When you compare the two players through their first two seasons, the statistics are remarkably similar.
Both quarterbacks had attempted exactly 685 passes, with Quinn completing 51-percent for 4,417 yards with 26 touchdowns and 25 interceptions. Clausen has completed 59-percent of his passes for 4,426 yards with 32 touchdowns and 23 interceptions.
Charlie Weis said during Clausen’s freshman year that by the time preparations for his junior season arrived, he would be well ahead of Quinn’s evolution pace. It’s hard to argue.
