100%. Even if JW is the man, does anyone on here feel comfortable with any other QB on the roster/coming in as a 2025 being the backup? I sure don’t. Get someone good in here and let’s see who wins the job
Agreed. I don't get the problem / disconnect with this line of thinking.
One of my best friends attended a "factory" football school. They are ranked in the top 5 every year, just for perspective. Like us, he pays close attention to recruiting, etc.
They bring in 4- and 5-star QBs every year. And most of them don't pan out. Some are highly rated because they fit an athletic profile, and the recruiting services project what they COULD develop into based upon those attributes. Some are "tools-ey" and have decent skills, but struggle to beat out the other top flight guys on the roster. And some have lots of potential, but once they get to the collegiate level find themselves stuck behind more established QBs, and eventually opt to leave.
Some transfer out and flop. Some transfer out and excel. And some are right in the middle.
The lesson? Even at a factory, there is no guarantee with QB recruits. Even when a guy is projected as a 5-star QB, that doesn't necessarily mean that they are destined for greatness. Heck, look at DJ Uiagalelei -- who had an NFL type build in high school. No wonder he was rated so highly -- but as it turns out, his skill level didn't match the athletic tools, and he never lived up to the lofty ratings.
Please note, I'm not saying this to bash the star system. I'm just pointing out that for QBs, there is no guarantee, no matter how highly they are rated. Even those who go to blue chip factory programs.
Which brings us to Williams, and Carney. I like both of them. I'm happy we landed both of them. It is exciting to think that one or both of them might end up being really, really good -- because when you have a good young QB, your program is set up for several years of success. BUT we've been excited about QBs before, and have seen first hand that even some of the higher rated ones we've landed haven't panned out.
And frankly, they BOTH can't start. If it comes down to these two, then one is going to have to sit. Which means that maybe they both don't stick around long -- the transfer portal gives them that option.
And what if neither proves to be adequate? Why should Fran Brown delimit his options to try to appease two recruits who have never taken a live snap? That seems dumb -- especially when the portal gives you the opportunity to add to the talent level in the QB room.
I get that there aren't many McCord's out there in the portal. We might NEVER have a QB transfer who makes the same level of impact, or who throws the ball as well as he did. McCord may very well be a unicorn. But that doesn't mean that we shouldn't TRY.
And if Williams and / or Carney beats out a transfer -- disco. May the best QB win the starting job. And I hope that they perform well. But if a transfer beats out THEM and performs well, I'm not going to lose sleep.
Because every program at every level -- even the factories -- loses guys to the portal, and is actively searching for top flight QBs. Maybe Williams or Carney is the long-term guy. Maybe one [or both] of them ends up being the next Syracuse great.
It just feels like an unnecessary risk to stand pat and not use the portal -- and McCord's video game statistical production -- to convince the best portal QB we can to consider coming to the 'Cuse.
