The Georgia football program will be breaking in a new starting quarterback for the second time in as many years, but the answer as to who isn’t as clear-cut as last season.
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For four solid years, Aaron Murray led the Georgia Bulldogs as their quarterback. Then in 2014, the young man who waited in the wings and used a redshirt season to play beyond Murray’s years took over for one season, doing an admirable job.
But now that one-and-done starter Hutson Mason has exhausted his eligibility, Mark Richt and his staff have to decide who will be the next man to lead the Bulldogs on the field.
During the 2014 season, Brice Ramsey was listed second on the Dawgs depth chart behind Mason, but with a new offensive coordinator and a completely re-tooled and reshuffled offensive coaching staff, the quarterback position has been declared to be wide open heading into this Spring.
Ramsey will be in an open competition with rising sophomore Jacob Park and redshirt junior Faton Bauta, all of whom possess very different skill sets, and it will be up to Richt and new O.C. Brian Schottenheimer to decide what fits best for the 2015 team.
There are two other possible candidates in walk-on sophomore Sam Vaughn, and incoming non-scholarship commit Nick Robinson.
For his part, Ramsey is known for a big arm that can go deep almost effortlessly, and his experience in a pro-style offense. He led the Bulldogs to a victory in the second half of last year’s Belk Bowl, going 24-of-39 for 333 yards with three TDs and two interceptions for the season.
Ramsey will likely be considered the favorite in this QB battle, given that he has more experience on the field than any of his teammates, and wold have probably been tagged the starter had Mike Bobo not departed for Colorado State.
But accuracy and decision-making are at question with Ramsey, who will have to prove he’s got the mental game of his two predecessors who were both noted students of the game.
Faton Bauta would be an interesting choice, and he shouldn’t be overlooked as someone who can win this battle in the spring. He’s a big, strong dual-threat quarterback who has the aforementioned mental game, and has a reputation as being somewhat of a gym rat as well.
Oct 11, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Brice Ramsey (12) talks with coaches on the sideline during the second half against the Missouri Tigers at Faurot Field. Georgia won 34-0. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Bauta may not necessarily fit into the type of offense that Schottenheimer wants to employ, but he’s never really had the opportunity to try either. Each spring, Bauta impresses coaches with his ability, which is probably why he was never moved to fullback or tight end, as many predicted he would be when he first arrived in Athens.
The up-and-coming possible breakout star in this group is Jacob Park. While some think he may not be ready to take over after just one season in Athens, it has to be noted that Aaron Murray had only one redshirt season before taking over as the team’s starter.
Park has all the intangibles, and some playmaking ability that Ramsey does not. But the learning curve on an offense that will see some changes (although not wholesale) could put him behind Ramsey and Bauta who already have a working knowledge of the base set of plays.
The defensive players on last year’s scout team think that Park is a star in the making, and he even had to rein in his game a little to suit that team.
There is simply no real clear-cut favorite this season, and any of those three could step up and win the job with an impressive spring and some highlights in the G-Day game. For my money (and call it a gut feeling), I think that Park might be ready to show this coaching staff what he’s got. Jacob Park can sneak in and surprise everyone, and could walk away as the starter, or at least one half of a 2-quarterback system that could include Bauta.
The pressure is on Ramsey, and we’ve yet to see him truly play under any pressure. It will be a telling Spring for the guy many thought to be the next heir to the starter’s job.