The last time Kansas had true success and stability at the quarterback position was 2009, when Todd Reesing led the Jayhawks to a 5-7 record and a last place finish in the Big 12 North. Two short years earlier, Reesing had led Kansas to a berth (and eventual victory) in the Orange Bowl, capping the greatest year in program history. However, ever since Reesing and coach Mark Mangino left town, the team has sputtered and there have been more questions than answers at the quarterback position. This is the KU Football 2016 Quarterback Breakdown, examining the quarterbacks currently on Kansas’ roster and who the likely starter will be this coming season.
Last season, Kansas had three different quarterbacks start a game, none of whom were originally slated to start the season. The team’s original starter, Michael Cummings, had his season ended in the team’s spring game when a defensive player barreled into his leg and tore his ACL. Montell Cozart originally held the starting job, before being usurped briefly by JUCO transfer Deondre Ford. Both of these players ended up injured midway through the season, allowing freshman Ryan Willis to take over the job for the remainder of Kansas’ winless campaign.
Despite the team’s abysmal results, Willis showed some promise during his time on the field. A 3-star recruit from Overland Park, Kan., Willis set the school record for passing yards in a season by a freshman with 1,719 yards, despite only starting eight games and playing in just 10. Willis’ basic stat line appears mediocre at first glance; with just nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2015, it wasn’t an excessively productive year for the young quarterback. However, Willis’ production is largely a product of the pieces around him on the offense.
You need to look beyond the stats when analyzing Willis’ performance in his freshman season. His ability to keep his head up in the midst of a play breaking down is a valuable trait, especially in a developing quarterback. The same can be said about his ability to keep plays alive with his feet when looking for a target downfield, although this particular trait was not on display as commonly as some of his others, as he was under siege from opposing front-sevens constantly thanks to his pitiful offensive line. It also must be noted that while not every throw of his was perfect, Willis made throws with form and technique that his last several predecessors never showed they could make with regularity.
Of course with the good comes the bad, and Willis was certainly not flawless as a freshman. There were many instances when Willis made freshman mistakes, such as staring down receivers, making rushed throws and holding on to the ball for too long. These are unsurprising mistakes for a freshman, especially one thrust into a terrible situation like the one in which Kansas currently is. Willis did not net KU a single win and his basic stats are mediocre for the most part, but the projections for Willis going forward indicate a bright future.
The question that still lingers is whether or not Willis can beat out the rest of Kansas’ stable of quarterbacks. Montell Cozart has started several games over the past few seasons, officially losing the starting job in 2015 due to injury. Deondre Ford is also an option, as he started Kansas’ game versus Rutgers in 2015, but was removed before the game concluded. Entering 2016, the true quarterback competition is between Willis and Cozart.
Cozart will be entering his third season on KU’s campus in 2016, with his third different head coach (including interim head coach Clint Bowen for part of the 2014 season). Something that could work in Cozart’s favor is the fact that he is simply more experienced, essentially being the elder statesman of the offense at this point. However, his total statistics over three seasons (he had his redshirt burned by Charlie Weis midway through the 2013 season) are actually worse than Willis’ from 2015 alone. With just 1,680 passing yards, seven passing touchdowns and 10 interceptions thrown, saying that Cozart has struggled while leading the Jayhawks is putting it lightly.
Assuming Ford and the rest of the quarterbacks on the roster don’t make ridiculous strides during spring camp, it’s safe to say that either Willis or Cozart will be starting the season for Kansas at quarterback. Cozart is a better runner and has more experience in college football, however Willis is a much better passer and is developing in coach David Beaty’s system, unlike Cozart, who has switched offensive schemes multiple times. On a team that is challenged at best when it comes to offensive weapons and help, positive quarterback play is a necessity for Kansas to be competitive in 2016. It’s easy to learn toward expecting Willis to take the mantle of starting quarterback, but it’s equally important to know that if he sputters, the team has a known quantity in Cozart backing him up.
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