Let me get this out of the way first and foremost... "Gus is a high school coach with a gimmicky high school offense and the next High School QB he develops will be the first he has ever developed." There it has been said.
With the hype and hope surrounding Bo Nix, I am reminded of some illustrious and infamous posters that disparage Gus with his inability to recruit and development highly touted high school QBS. I will admit even as a self-proclaimed SSPer, not a Gus-apologist, it has been interesting to see the swing and miss on big name QBs. Especially, since it only took 2 years after leaving The Plains for Cameron Newton to have his own statue in front of the stadium. What highly touted DT QB would not want that potential outcome by following in the step of Newton? It really is interesting...
So I decided to look back at some of the swing and misses to try to make sense of the phenomenon..
Let's start in 2009, Tyrik Rollison commits to Auburn. He is a 4-star, 6.0 rated DT QB. And then unexpectedly leaves a year later. Found this little gem, "The move will take Rollison closer to home, and take him out of a five-way battle for the Tigers starting quarterback position.Junior College transfer Cameron Newton will compete with Neil Caudle, Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley to replace Chris Todd."
In 2010, Cam Newton sets the world of college football on fire. I don't know if any truly expected Cam to last only one season at Auburn, but that is all he needed.
In 2011, because of the tremendous success of Cam and his exit after only one season, Auburn lands only one QB commit in the 2011 class. Kiehl Frazier the 4-star, 5.9 rated DT QB from Arkansas. Found this interesting gem, "Frazier came to Auburn’s campus riding a wave of hype as Auburn’s next big-time, dual-threat quarterback. Named the Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today Offensive Player of the Year after leading Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.) to its third straight state title as a senior, Frazier arrived in Auburn hailed as the quarterback of the future."
Also, worth noting that Auburn actually added a commitment from Zeke Pike in April of 2011. He was a 3-star prospect with an interesting fanfare of "Pike was once an All-American quarterback at Dixie Heights High School in Northern Kentucky. For a brief time, he was compared to Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton at Auburn." Another interesting gem, "We talked a lot about (style of play)," Mark Pike said. "A lot of people said Zeke needed to be in a traditional pro-style system. But Gus really does adapt his offense to his personnel, especially his quarterback."
In 2012, Gus Malzahn leaves Auburn to head to Arkansas State to become head coach. Whatever future development or lack thereof for Frazier would not come from Gus Malzahn, but rather incoming Auburn OC Scott Loeffler. After the dismissal of Zeke Pike and the decision of Barrett Trotter to not return, the QB room looked bleak with just Jonathan Wallace, Clint Moseley and the tattered remnants of Kiehl Frazier.
The end of the 2012 season was forgettable if not for the fact that will never be forgotten.
In the 3 seasons Gus Malzahn was the OC at Auburn, unquestionably the most success came from Transfer QBs.
Todd in 2009 and Newton in 2010.
He inherited Todd from the previous staff. And while the 2009 offense is sort of a point of contention among the Pro-Gus and Anti-Gus factions of the fanbase, that season was statistically success from an offensive standpoint. Especially, if you consider your QB1 couldn't throw the football further than 20 yards down the field and had the mobility of a grandmother. Todd was chosen to lead the 2009 squad over the Kodi Burns, Neil Caudle and freshman Tyrik Rollison.
And 2010, which its not really worth adding much because much is already known... But just to reinforce a point. Cam was a very highly touted DT QB with an unbelievable skill set. Maybe unlike any other to ever play the position. But whether you consider a "chicken or the egg" dilemma, Cam's success in part came while Gus was the OC for Auburn. Credit is due.. how much is a matter of opinion.
Continued in part 2... https://auburn.forums.rivals.com/threads/gus-malzahn-and-his-qbs-part-2.878792/
Part 3: https://auburn.forums.rivals.com/threads/gus-malzahn-and-his-qbs-part-3.878797/
With the hype and hope surrounding Bo Nix, I am reminded of some illustrious and infamous posters that disparage Gus with his inability to recruit and development highly touted high school QBS. I will admit even as a self-proclaimed SSPer, not a Gus-apologist, it has been interesting to see the swing and miss on big name QBs. Especially, since it only took 2 years after leaving The Plains for Cameron Newton to have his own statue in front of the stadium. What highly touted DT QB would not want that potential outcome by following in the step of Newton? It really is interesting...
So I decided to look back at some of the swing and misses to try to make sense of the phenomenon..
Let's start in 2009, Tyrik Rollison commits to Auburn. He is a 4-star, 6.0 rated DT QB. And then unexpectedly leaves a year later. Found this little gem, "The move will take Rollison closer to home, and take him out of a five-way battle for the Tigers starting quarterback position.Junior College transfer Cameron Newton will compete with Neil Caudle, Barrett Trotter and Clint Moseley to replace Chris Todd."
In 2010, Cam Newton sets the world of college football on fire. I don't know if any truly expected Cam to last only one season at Auburn, but that is all he needed.
In 2011, because of the tremendous success of Cam and his exit after only one season, Auburn lands only one QB commit in the 2011 class. Kiehl Frazier the 4-star, 5.9 rated DT QB from Arkansas. Found this interesting gem, "Frazier came to Auburn’s campus riding a wave of hype as Auburn’s next big-time, dual-threat quarterback. Named the Gatorade Player of the Year and USA Today Offensive Player of the Year after leading Shiloh Christian (Springdale, Ark.) to its third straight state title as a senior, Frazier arrived in Auburn hailed as the quarterback of the future."
Also, worth noting that Auburn actually added a commitment from Zeke Pike in April of 2011. He was a 3-star prospect with an interesting fanfare of "Pike was once an All-American quarterback at Dixie Heights High School in Northern Kentucky. For a brief time, he was compared to Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton at Auburn." Another interesting gem, "We talked a lot about (style of play)," Mark Pike said. "A lot of people said Zeke needed to be in a traditional pro-style system. But Gus really does adapt his offense to his personnel, especially his quarterback."
In 2012, Gus Malzahn leaves Auburn to head to Arkansas State to become head coach. Whatever future development or lack thereof for Frazier would not come from Gus Malzahn, but rather incoming Auburn OC Scott Loeffler. After the dismissal of Zeke Pike and the decision of Barrett Trotter to not return, the QB room looked bleak with just Jonathan Wallace, Clint Moseley and the tattered remnants of Kiehl Frazier.
The end of the 2012 season was forgettable if not for the fact that will never be forgotten.
In the 3 seasons Gus Malzahn was the OC at Auburn, unquestionably the most success came from Transfer QBs.
Todd in 2009 and Newton in 2010.
He inherited Todd from the previous staff. And while the 2009 offense is sort of a point of contention among the Pro-Gus and Anti-Gus factions of the fanbase, that season was statistically success from an offensive standpoint. Especially, if you consider your QB1 couldn't throw the football further than 20 yards down the field and had the mobility of a grandmother. Todd was chosen to lead the 2009 squad over the Kodi Burns, Neil Caudle and freshman Tyrik Rollison.
And 2010, which its not really worth adding much because much is already known... But just to reinforce a point. Cam was a very highly touted DT QB with an unbelievable skill set. Maybe unlike any other to ever play the position. But whether you consider a "chicken or the egg" dilemma, Cam's success in part came while Gus was the OC for Auburn. Credit is due.. how much is a matter of opinion.
Continued in part 2... https://auburn.forums.rivals.com/threads/gus-malzahn-and-his-qbs-part-2.878792/
Part 3: https://auburn.forums.rivals.com/threads/gus-malzahn-and-his-qbs-part-3.878797/
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