LSU beat writer Glenn Guilbeau, who covers the Tigers for Gannett Newspapers, tweeted two days ago the news of yet another quarterback transferring.
“At this rate, Les Miles better tell (Brandon) Harris and (Anthony) Jennings both will start, or one will transfer. Lost another backup — Rob Bolden transferring,” Guilbeau wrote on his Twitter account, @LSUbeattweet.
Bolden, a 6-foot-4, 209-pound senior, represented the third third-string quarterback to bolt from Baton Rouge since the end of last season. He follows Hayden Rettig, who transferred to Rutgers in June, and Stephen Rivers, who left for Vanderbilt a couple of weeks before that.
That leaves Jennings, a sophomore, and Harris, a freshman, as the only quarterbacks on the roster. Well, with the exception of Jared Foster, who recently was procured from the baseball team to resume his previously abandoned football career as LSU’s newest third-string quarterback.
Suffice it to say the battle to succeed Zach Mettenberger as LSU’s quarterback won’t be decided by numbers. This is a two-man race between Jennings and Harris.
“It will be a competitive event from start to finish,” coach Les Miles said Wednesday at SEC Media Days.
Atlantans should be somewhat familiar with Jennings. He played at Marietta High and served as Mettenberger’s primary backup last season.
In fact, after leading the Tigers on a 99-yard drive to beat Arkansas on a 49-yard, game-winning pass to end the regular season last year, the 6-2, 211-pound Jennings seemed to be the heir apparent to Mettenberger. But subpar performances in the Outback Bowl and then LSU’s spring game and the simultaneous emergence of Harris loosened Jennings’ grip on the position.
Jennings completed only 7 of 19 passes for 82 yards and threw an interception as LSU’s offense went conservative in a 21-14 win over Iowa in the Outback Bowl. He reportedly performed well through spring practice in March, but had a poor spring game. He was 9-of-17 for 157 yards and a touchdown, but threw two “pick-six” interceptions and was sacked four times.
Harris, a highly touted signee from Bossier City, La., completed only 11 of 28 passes, but had three long touchdown passes and finished with 195 yards. The fans loved it, and the inevitable quarterback controversy then kicked into full gear.
Miles has done nothing to quell the excitement being directed toward the 6-3, 183-pound freshman.
“He really throws the ball well,” Miles said Wednesday. “I mean, he is a guy who has real strength. He’s innately accurate, he’s got great footwork, he can extend a play, get out of the pocket, move around. But probably the best thing about him, he anticipates that great play, too. He has the opportunity to see it and the arm to get it there. There’s some real advantages with him.”
A likely outcome is that both quarterbacks will play. And there won’t be much of an indoctrination period. The Tigers open the season Aug. 30 against Wisconsin at Reliant Stadium in Houston.
“At the quarterback position right now, we have two great quarterbacks,” senior tackle La’El Collins said. “(Offensive coordinator) Cam (Cameron) is going to have a hard decision choosing who the starting quarterback is going to be because those guys are both very talented. Personally I feel like we’re going to need both of them this year. Both of them are going to have to play in games together. That’s a big thing for us this year.”
As will be keeping both players healthy.
