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1. Chance Wilson - 6'3" 180 pound - Redshirt Sophomore
Hudl Page - https://www.hudl.com/profile/13510043/Chance-Wilson
High School Senior Stats -
Passing - 2,050 Yds, 22 TDs - 3 Int
Rushing - 683 Yds, 13 TDs
Chance seems to have taken over the backup position throughout the year. He is by far the most athletic option that we will have in our group of QBs due to the fact he ran a school record 21.7 in the 200 meter. He is a 7 time Track and Field Champion in the state of Oklahoma, and his Hudl page says he runs around a 4.58 40 yard dash. That time was taken in high school, so I'm sure he is even faster now. In what little tape I watched from him on Hudl, and what little I saw from him on the field this year, I can clearly see that speed on display. He is fairly elusive in the pocket, and resorts often to rolling out to buy more time and get the ball down field. I think he has a long way to go as far as footwork, and his release looks a little off, but I'm sure our coaches and Chance himself are working to improve on that. He has nice touch on his deep passes, but I do see a lack of velocity on his throws when compared to our other guys. You can't argue with his production in high school, as he amassed 10,254 yards of offense and 139 TDs in 4 years at Rejoice Christian. One can assume he is a natural leader of men due to starting varsity for the better part of 3 and a half years in High School. He was heavily recruited to New Mexico State, Tulsa, and ironically enough, NDSU, but he chose us. For my money, he is the most likely to start at a 45% chance...
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2. River Warren - 6'3" 190 pound - Freshman
Hudl Page - https://www.hudl.com/profile/12755311/River-Warren
High School Senior Stats -
Passing - 2,288 Yds, 32 Tds - 5 Int
Rushing - 103 Yds, 2 Tds
River Warren is an exciting player. He is intelligent, incredibly accurate (73% completion Rate), and I believe he is the most polished QB out of high school that we have in the group. Watching his tape, I was impressed by his velocity and accuracy on short to intermediate routes. His footwork is almost as polished as Reed's, and he has short area quickness in the pocket. His Hudl says he runs a 4.7 40 yard dash, but I can see that improving if he hits the weight room when he gets here. He was heavily recruited by Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Old Dominion, Toledo and Marshall. He was also rumored to be offered a PWO after a visit to Oklahoma. That is 7-8 FBS teams that threw him an offer, which also makes him one of the most impressive QB commits we have seen for MSU in years, and I know he is talented enough to come in and compete with everyone to start as a true freshman. I give him a 25% chance to start as a true Freshman.
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3. Patrick Duchien 6'2" 210 pound - Redshirt Sophomore
Hudl Page - https://www.hudl.com/profile/13047047/Patrick-Duchien
High School Senior Stats
Passing - 3,219 Yds, 36 TDs - 5 Ints
Rushing - 1,187 Yds, 20 TDs
Ah Patrick, the forgotten Class B Florence-Carlton, MT Legend. He certainly had a productive high school career both rushing and passing the ball. Patrick knows how to find the endzone in many ways, and I'd say that's his greatest attribute. He has adequate passing skills, sets his feet well, and throws with just enough velocity. His most intriguing trait to me is his ball carrier vision. When he gets going, he sees the field well and knows how to use his blocks. He runs right past the class B kids, but his speed is concerning for a D1 QB, with his Hudl saying he runs a 4.85 40. He has now been at MSU for two years, so that speed might have changed. I noticed during warmups one time this year, number 15 out there with the QBs looked stout and built, it took me a while to realize it was Patrick. He certainly has spent time in the weight room in the offseason. While Patrick is not near the elite athlete that Tommy was as far as speed, he might be the best pure duel threat option QB that we now have on roster. He brings that Montana competitiveness, leadership, and offensive skillset that might just make him the forgotten Dark horse in this race for QB. I give him a 15% Chance to start next season...
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4. Jordan Reed - 6'6" 228 pound - Junior
Hudl Page - https://www.hudl.com/profile/15750484/Jordan-Reed
High School Senior Stats (5 games played due to Covid) -
Passing - 1,015 Yds, 16 TDs - 1 Int
Rushing - 113 Yds, 3 TDs
Jordan to me is by far the most effortless thrower that we have in the group. He makes every throw with a smooth motion, and seems to be able to make any throw on the field. Reed's footwork was very impressive for a high school player, and I can see why the coaches had him as the backup to Tommy at the start of the year. He is not a bad athlete at all, as his Hudl says he runs a 4.68 40 yard dash. However, he is not the elite level/twitchy athlete that we have been accustomed to with Tommy and Sean Chambers the past few years. If we were running a prostyle offense, this guy would succeed, but for the Offensive system we have been running recently, we need a QB that is a threat to run, and for that I give him a 10% chance to start for us next year...
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5. Grant Vigen - 6'6" 215 pound - Freshman
Hudl Page - https://www.hudl.com/profile/16365590/Grant-Vigen
High School Senior Stats
Passing - 2,102 Yds, 24 TDs - 7 Int
Rushing - 59 Yds, 1 TD
I would bet that besides maybe Reed, there would be no one on the team that can compete with Vigen in a distance throwing competition. He really does have a rocket arm. Watching some of his Junior season highlights, he was making some 50 yard completions, hitting the receiver in stride on the run
... He is an impressive kid with elite size, and from what I am hearing, I'm sure he takes after his dad being a leader on and off the field. The thing that worries me about him is some of his decision making and overall athleticism. He tried to force too many throws with 7 ints in both his junior and senior years, and I'm not completely sure about his speed level with no 40 time listed, but if I had to guess, he runs about a 4.78 to 4.89. He is alot like Reed, but maybe has the highest ceiling on the team as far as arm talent. With that being said, I don't know if he would fit in too well with our RPO based system as a true freshman. I think he will come in and compete with the other 4 guys, but ultimately be redshirted and see significant playing time much later in his career. For that I give him a 5% chance to start...-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All in all, I feel confident we will find our starter out of these 5 guys. Not having Tommy next year will be hard to get used to, but I trust Vigen and staff to make the right decision at starting QB. It will be fun to see in the spring and summer who really separates themselves from the rest.
What probability do you guys have for each of these QBs? Do you guys feel confident in our inexperienced QB group? Or should we look elsewhere in the portal for a more experienced QB?
