The 2022 college football recruitment cycle is well in the rearview mirror and prospects from that class are enrolled to start their careers.
And while many of these true newbies will be watching their team from the sidelines for most of their season, some might have a chance to sneak up and get onto the field.
Especially when you look at the latest crop of quarterback prospects climbing the ranks. Who has the chance to snap some meaningful snaps this season?
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Conner Weigman
Brian Perroni | 247 sports
Where he plays: Texas A&M
Recruitment Rating: 5 Stars
College Football HQ Preview: Jimbo Fisher signed what 247Sports described as the top-rated recruiting league in modern history in 2022, and while most attention has rightly been focused on his defensive prospects, Weigman is an elite pickup himself. The No. 5 player in Texas, Weigman had his best season at Bridgeland as a high school junior in 2020 when he rushed for 3,803 yards and 42 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
He’ll be competing with two other decent options this preseason, including Haynes King and LSU transfer Zack Johnson, and while the true freshman is unlikely to beat both early on, he could find himself on the field if the Aggies excessively suffer position at any point of the season or in the event of injury.
Wanderer Howard
Where he plays: LSU
Recruitment Rating: 4 stars
College Football HQ Preview: Brian Kelly has four options to choose from in his first season at LSU, a group led by vet Myles Brennan and Jayden Daniels, including sophomore Garrett Nussmeier, who had limited activity a year ago. Kelly said the race was wide open after spring football but praised Howard’s strong arm after throwing a 55-yard touchdown in the exhibition.
Brennan is a qualified option at the starter but has a history of injuries, and while Daniels brings athleticism and mobility, his numbers at ASU don’t jump the page. That could theoretically open up a spot for Howard to snap some snaps. Former No. 6 Louisiana player Howard led St. Thomas More to a state title in 2020 after passing for 3,000 yards with 35 TDs and just four picks.
Drew Allar
Where he plays: Pennsylvania
Recruitment Rating: 5 Stars
College Football HQ Preview: You’d think if a team was used as quarterback it would be Penn State, with super senior Sean Clifford coming back for another encore. But he’s also grappled with some injury troubles – most notably during last season’s game in Iowa – that could open a lane for Allar to intervene.
The No. 4 overall player in the 2022 class and the No. 3 player out of Ohio, Allar mustered 4,444 yards from goal as a senior at Medina outside of Cleveland with 48 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. He rushed to the floor for another 382 yards and nine touchdowns.
Cade Klubnik
Where he plays: Clemson
Recruitment Rating: 5 Stars
College Football HQ Preview: Dabo Swinney isn’t averse to launching newbies into games when the situation calls for it, like he did with Deshaun Watson in 2014 and Trevor Lawrence in 2018, and might be able to make that decision again this year.
Clemson already boasts a five-star pedigree as a quarterback, with DJ Uiagalelei entering his second full season as a starter, but he struggled a year ago, throwing just nine TDs and 10 picks for the ACC’s second-worst prolific offense at 26.3 points per game. Hunter Johnson, who went from Clemson to Northwestern and back to Clemson, is another former 5-star promise.
Klubnik was the nation’s No. 1 quarterback in 2022, and has 7,426 career yards, 86 touchdowns and just seven interceptions, including three Texas State Championships.
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