Quarterback to Back: Looking At Baylor’s Three QB Options for OSU

For the second-straight week, Jim Knowles, his staff and his players have been preparing for an offense led by a question mark. Charlie Brewer, the Big 12’s leading underclassman passer, is currently going through concussion protocol and his status for Saturday’s tilt with the Pokes is unclear.

In case Brewer can’t make it for the early Saturday kick, Baylor would turn to either Jalan McClendon, the graduate transfer from NC State, or freshman Gerry Bohanon, the four-star dual threat QB who had offers from the likes of Alabama, Georgia and LSU.

Before we get too far into the Bears’ three signal callers, let’s take a gander at how at least two of them stack up to Taylor Cornelius.

Cornelius holds the upper hand in just about every category except the turnovers. While he played a pretty clean game against Texas on Saturday, it was only his second of the year without an interception.

If the Cowboys can avoid a letdown and the O-line can protect like it did on Saturday, there’s no reason to think Cornelius can’t have similar success. But consistency has been his bugaboo this year, so we’ll have to wait and see.

Baylor’s QB Options

If Brewer is available it will be bit of a full-circle game for the young sophomore. He attempted his first collegiate pass during mop-up duty in Stillwater for OSU’s homecoming last year.

He would earn the starting gig three weeks later with a win against Kansas. He’s now 5-7 as Baylor’s QB1, starting every game since.

Last year at OSU, Brewer also threw his first college interception. His most recent pick — he had three, actually — came during the first half of Baylor’s loss in Morgantown last Thursday. Brewer was sacked three times and completed just one of his eight pass attempts before being replaced by McClendon due to concussion symptoms.

It appears that Brewer has done enough over the last 12 months to earn the QB1 spot and will start if he’s available. But if not, Matt Rhule feels good about what he has been him.

“I have all of the confidence in the world in Jalan [McClendon],” said Rhule. “He was invited to play in the NFL Players Association All-Star game just off of people watching him play in practice. He is smart, tough and competitive. His teammates respond to him and he has a big-time arm.”

McClendon spelled Brewer in the West Virginia game and completed 16 of his 21 passes for 183 yards and rushed for a score.

“The other night when things weren’t going well, he [McClendon] jumped in there and lead us to score on a seven- and 10-play drive,” Rhule said. “It is just the way the life works out the is not the starter. I know that he can do big-time things.”

McClendon may own the advantage in experience — he’s played in six games for the Bears this season and appeared in 21 games over three years for the Wolfpack — but don’t count out Bohanon with four games left and the Bears having a chance to get their assumed quarterback of the future some reps without affecting his eligibility. 

“I am also excited to see Gerry [Bohanon] get the opportunity to play,” said Rhule. “He has waited his turn and he has developed. He is a special young man and a special athlete and good quarterback in his own right, and he’s been getting better.”

Oklahoma State facing a freshman QB? What could go wrong?

Regardless of who takes snaps for the Bears on Saturday, Rhule said not to expect a drastic change in playcalling.

“Yeah, we’re basically a drop-back offense that tries to mix in some runs,” said Rhule. “Jalan’s a big-time drop-back quarterback too.”

Baylor, like Oklahoma State, has plenty of things to improve on at several different positions. But this is the most important one and the Bears seem pretty confident in what they have.