24 Comments
User's avatar
Evan's avatar

The significance of having a quarterback who will have 5 years of starting experience cannot be understated.

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TxBruinFan's avatar

The DTR haters will be in a tizzy about this...but, I think most sane people will agree, he was not the issue this year.

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E2148's avatar

Nah he was good. He's definitely a far better QB than when he was the starter and showed he could be a clutch performer.

Guess that means Caleb Williams is headed to USC...

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Bruin Bro's avatar

Not necessarily, isn't "Dart" their new golden boy?

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Ed's avatar

Dart is in the transfer portal. Maybe he is headed to Dodge. LOL!

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Bruin Bro's avatar

If this was the DTR of past years...yes. But this year he proved himself in my eyes. He showed a toughness and poise. He has certainly grown in the position. I'm good with this.

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Bruin Bro's avatar

Just speculation on my part, but I wonder if DTR saw the many talented QB's that would declare for the draft and thought he'd do better with another year (and possibly less competition)

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Ed's avatar

I heard that this year's NFL draft will not have a great selection of QB's. Can anybody name some?

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Chiro's avatar

Yea, I think it’s a weak draft. He probably got info of being a 5-7 round pick at best. Probably best to try to improve his stock and now he can also earn some money with the new NIL rules.

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Ed's avatar

I agree about the weak NFL draft, but he still also needs to clean up on a number of things next season.

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Evan's avatar

this year's QB class is not very strong. He was never going to compete with the first round guys, it was about where he would get picked. My guess is he was told he was not going to get drafted. I also think he's the rare guy who can substantially improve his draft status with another year.

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Ron's avatar

Awesome news! He was thrust into the starting role before he was ready, but he's really grown into it and was really, really good in the 2nd half of this season. And now that he already has executed the greatest hurdle over a DB in college FB history, he can stop doing that and protect his body. :-)

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Chenalex's avatar

Next year DTR will be one of the top, if not the best, QB in the conference. Don’t think anyone at any of the other schools have better QBs…. Maybe Utah

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Evan's avatar

i cannot argue this. He may put up some of the best stats of anyone in the country. 35+ tds would not surprise me

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Runfastandwin's avatar

Good news! Probably result in most of the backups transferring out oh well.

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Evan's avatar

?? You really think DTR forwent the NFL draft because a 4th string QB transferred?

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TheCheetah's avatar

It's the other way—he's saying DTR deciding to stay will likely lead to an exodus among the backups.

I wonder how much this influenced recent decisions like Dillon Gabriel's.

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Evan's avatar

I don't think it is a secret that it caused Gabriel to flip. I read that he did not enroll (transfers don't sign) because he was waiting for DTR to declare. When that had not happened (and there were already reports that DTR was receiving poor draft grades), he knew there was a good chance he was coming back. Obviously not transferring into a QB competition, so he flipped.

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Grider55's avatar

With the supporting cast DTR may have this year, I'd say he's showing some real cojones coming back!

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Evan's avatar

He's going to put up ungodly stats. 35 TDs is a definite possibility and 40 would not surprise me. 2400 pass yards and 600 rush yards, 30 total tds (24+6) vs 6 picks while missing a few games. I think he will easily surpass Hundley's final year stats. Mariota's Heisman year was 4450 pass yards, 770 rush yards, 42 pass tds vs. 4 picks and and another 15 rush yards. Those stats are insane, but I would not be surprised if was a poor man's Mariota next year. Maybe 3500 pass yards, 700 rush yards, 35-40 total TDs. Certainly not out of the question, and those are stats that get you in the Heisman conversation at least early on (not saying he is going to contend for the Heisman).

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Grider55's avatar

I hope you're right, but with the loss of at least 3 OL starters, Phillips and Dulcich, Charbonnet and Brown, not much apparent step-up from underclassmen, and another pretty poor early recruiting period, it might be tough sledding.

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gbruin's avatar

This is what worries me. A great QB can only do so much without a reliable OL and some skill players to make plays.

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Uclastepup's avatar

Says a lot about how we develop our QBs, year 5, unbelievable.

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gbruin's avatar

Fantastic news! With all the talent leaving early, I was shocked to see this, but I'm totally good with this. DTR knows the system better than Rattler or Williams or other high profile transfer could even with a spring season. And DTR has improved significantly every year, so I'd expect another jump next season.

Now if only Kevin Love will come back for his sophomore year...!!!!

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