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Colorado State Football: Who Steps Up At Quarterback?
Collin Hill & Patrick O’Brien are going to battle for the starting slot.
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The Rams need someone to step up and lead this team.
Last season was a shock to the fans of Colorado State. A streak of five straight winning seasons came to an end and the program struggled for much of the year. The QB rotation seemed to cause an issue at times last year.
With Collin Hill looking healthy at the end of last season and in spring camp, the Rams look to have some stability at the quarterback position. But Hill could have some competition in Nebraska transfer Patrick O’Brien. With the QB position not so solidified we take a look at the Rams quarterback options.
Collin Hill
The redshirt junior from Moore, South Carolina is the presumed starter for the Rams. He has the most experience in the offense and would’ve been the starter last season if he hadn’t torn his ACL for the second time.
Standing 6’5″ and weighing 214 lbs, Hill has a tall, lanky frame that has room for growth. While Hill’s physical look could some growth, his mental outlook is his biggest strength. Hill has made some questionable calls, but overall looks comfortable in the pocket and can make the right read at key times.
Hill has thrown for nearly 2500 yards in his college career. With 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions, he certainly has room for improvement on the stat sheet. The only cause for concern would be his completion percentage at 59%.
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Patrick O’Brien
O’Brien was a top 10 quarterback coming out of high school. He was recruited by Mike Bobo to Colorado State, before deciding to commit to Nebraska. He sat behind Tanner Lee his freshman year and saw some minor action in 2017 going 18 for 30 for 192 yards.
After Mike Riley was fired and Scott Frost was hired, O’Brien decided to transfer after trying to give Frost a chance during spring camp. That previous relationship with Bobo proved useful for the Rams, as he decided to transfer to Fort Collins.
O’Brien brings a bigger frame, going 6’5″ and 244 lbs, to the position. He’s also not afraid to pull it down and run it. Both Hill and O’Brien are mobile quarterbacks but O’Brien is more adept at using his frame to get the hard yards.
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Justice McCoy & Judd Ericson
Both quarterbacks are down the depth chart, but are certainly capable of stepping into the starting QB position if so required. Both are redshirt sophomores, but that is where the similarities end.
McCoy is a smaller, dual-threat quarterback. In high school, he threw for 1,543 yards and 11 touchdowns, while running for 634 yards and 15 touchdowns. If McCoy is called upon, expect a different playbook to be used that best exploits his athleticism.
Ericson is the best Collin Hill clone that the Rams could find. Both are 6’5″ with similar lanky features. Both are pocket passers, who can use their athleticism to extend the play. If Ericson is called upon, don’t expect much difference in the playbook.
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