Top Five: Opponents' Quarterbacks

Written By Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

Let’s start this holiday weekend with our next piece in our Top Five series. This week we are looking at the person who is usually responsible for setting off the fireworks during a game. The quarterback. 2016 is a strange year for quarterbacks in the Big Ten. Gone are Connor Cook, Christian Hackenberg, and Jake Ruddock. The Hoosiers will also miss C.J. Beathard, Mitch Leidner and Wes Lunt out of the Big Ten West. So, who does that leave as the top five quarterbacks the Hoosiers will face in 2016? Let’s find out.

1. J.T. Barrett, Ohio State

Putting J.T. Barrett at the top of this list was automatic. There is no one on the IU schedule who is even close to as good of a quarterback as this Buckeye signal caller is. Barrett played against the Hoosiers as a freshman in 2014 in a 42-27 victory on their way to a national title without him after he suffered a leg injury against Michigan. Enter Cardale Jones and a quarterback controversy that likely cost the Buckeyes a second straight national title. Barrett lost the starting job to Jones before the 2015 season fought back to become the more trusted quarterback as Urban Meyer decided to insert Barrett in red zone situations after the Buckeyes narrow victory over the Hoosiers. He finished the season complete 63.3% of his passes for 992 yards with 11 touchdowns to just four interceptions. Barrett, a true dual-threat quarterback was the Buckeyes’ second leading rusher running for 745 yards and another 11 scores. 

In 2016, Barrett is the clear-cut starter and should not have to look over his shoulder after every drive that does not result in a touchdown. His running ability should help ease the loss of Ezekiel Elliott, and take the pressure off the talented, but largely unproven receiving corps. Some people may have forgotten about Barrett after the torrid roll Cardale Jones went on at the end of 2014, but this year everyone will know what Barrett can do, as he should be a preseason Heisman favorite. 

2. Tommy Armstrong Jr., Nebraska

As Tommy Armstrong goes, so does Nebraska. The 6’1” senior is back for his last go around in Lincoln and has the Nebraska offense primed to be one of the best in the Big Ten. He has a good arm as well as dangerous with his legs add on the proven weapons he has around him and Armstrong should put up fantastic numbers. However, his undoing has been his propensity to turn the ball over. In 2015, he only completed 55.2% of his passes and while throwing 22 touchdowns he did throw 16 picks. 

Like Barrett, Armstrong can create with his legs. He was the Huskers’ third leading rusher a year ago with 400 yards and seven touchdowns. Head coach Mike Riley has made it clear he’d like to have Armstrong use his legs more often to try and limit poor throws that result in turnovers. If he can clean up his accuracy issues and the turnovers, Armstrong could push Nebraska into contention for a Big Ten West title.

3. John O’Korn, Michigan

Can Jim Harbaugh work his magic with another transfer quarterback?  My guess is, yes. He made Ruddock into an All-Big Ten caliber signal caller after an otherwise uneventful career at Iowa. He may have more to work with in John O’Korn, who transferred from Houston after two years where he threw for 4,068 yards with 34 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in 16 starts for the Cougars. He won the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the year before getting benched in his sophomore season.

O’Korn is a tall, slender quarterback at 6’4” and 209 pounds and should make a smooth transition to the Big Ten after turning heads on Michigan’s scout team last season. "(We want quarterbacks to) make a play when there's no play to be made," Michigan offensive coordinator Tim Drevno said in an interview with MLive.com. "I think John's a real competitor. ... He's a guy who comes out to compete every day and wants to be at his best."

O’Korn isn’t a lock to be the starting quarterback for the Maize and Blue this season as he has been plagued by the turnover bug which got him bench at Houston. O’Korn had a solid spring, but was still too careless with the ball to totally secure the job. He has all the talent to be a great Power-Five quarterback, he just needs to put it all together and get back to the player he was his freshman season.

4. Alex McGough, Florida International

Before everyone bites my head off for putting Alex McGough of Florida International at number four of this list, hear me out. McGough is on this list for a couple reasons. First, the quarterback class in the Big Ten East this year is largely unknown and honestly the junior signal caller is just a solid player.

As a true freshman, McGough started 11 games and experienced some growing pains along the way, throwing for 1,680 yards and fourteen touchdowns. He struggled with his accuracy as he only completed half of his passes and threw 10 picks.

Last year, the Hoosiers got a great look at the sophomore version of McGough as the Golden Panthers came to Bloomington in week two. McGough threw for 249 yards and three touchdowns, before being knocked out of the game by Marcus Oliver on the game clinching pick-six by Jameel Cook Jr. For the year McGough completed 64 percent of his passes for 2,722 yards and 21 touchdowns to only eight picks. 

If McGough can continue his improvement into his junior season he could be an all-conference caliber quarterback as he returns two major weapons to throw to in wide receiver Thomas Owens and tight end Jonnu Smith. 

5. Tyler O’Connor, Michigan State

Whoever Michigan State chooses to replace Connor Cook will have huge shoes to fill, as the departed Cook won two Big Ten titles and a Rose Bowl. That replacement should be senior Tyler O’Connor. Fans may be familiar with O’Connor as he started in place of Cook in the Spartans’ upset win in Columbus last season. He played in five games last season, mostly in relief or as the wildcat option. He finished 13-24 passing with two scores and one pick.

O’Connor took control of the position in the spring after beating out Damian Terry and Brian Lewerke. He went 10-16 for 138 yards and a touchdown in the spring game. O’Connor was in the race as a freshman to replace Kirk Cousins until Connor Cook took control and led the team to a Big Ten title and a Rose Bowl victory over Stanford.

"It comes down to decision making, creating, making plays and leadership," MSU head coach Mark Dantonio said after the spring game. "So far Tyler, I think, has done a nice job at that. The other guys have too, but they have to be consistent. And he certainly has the most experience, but we'll see how it all shakes out."