Nick Saban explains why he thinks more freshman quarterbacks are having early success
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Last year’s National Championship Game featured Georgia freshman QB Jake Fromm and, after halftime, Alabama freshman QB Tua Tagovailoa.
This year, Clemson has a freshman quarterback in Trevor Lawrence. Two years ago, Alabama had true freshman Jalen Hurts starting at quarterback in the title game.
Why have there been so many true freshman quarterbacks succeeding on the highest levels? Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about that on Sunday during a College Football Playoff press conference, and credited more sophisticated high school offenses as a big reason players are ready when they get on campus:
“Well there are more and more guys coming into college programs that are more ready to play,” he said. “That’s a reflection of offense in this day and age has changed a little bit. Guys are developing earlier in that style of play. … It’s not all about drop-back passing, but there are elements of that. I see a lot of young players that do this in high school now. I just think the style of play guys grow up in is a little closer to what you see in college now, which allows a talented player to make the transition a little easier. But I see that at all positions. … I think it’s an expectation now that players are ready to do that.”
Even an Alabama squad that is loaded with talent year after year is utilizing more freshmen these days, and Saban said coaches now expect high school players to be ready to go early.
That trend will likely continue, and both Clemson and Alabama have elite recruiting classes coming in this spring and fall.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
