SEC Media Days: Kevin Sumlin audio and full transcript
Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat Gazette- “What would you say is your quarterback situation going into camp? Is there a frontrunner, or how do you think that’s going to go?”
"Sumlin – “Not really a frontrunner right now. I think I know that all three guys are really capable. You guys have seen Jake Hubenak, he’s played for us. I think the first couple of years, he’s traveled. He was at Oklahoma State, he’s traveled a little bit, he’s older, been in games. I think the first couple of years he’s real tentative because he’s behind some guys and really wanted to learn. But I see him right now as a mature guy who understands he wants it. Nick Starkel, which is another guy that was committed to Oklahoma State that’s 6’4, 6’5, can throw it through the wall. Could’ve played for us last year, after Trevor got hurt came to me, like Week 8,9 and said ‘Coach if you need me to play I’m out of my red shirt and ready to go.’ Son of a West Point grad you know he’s one of those guys. So you know he’s been in the program a year and a half now. And then Kellen Mond is a guy we signed in January. Really signed early, came in, phenomenal athlete, one of the top guys in the country coming out. I’ll tell you that the big thing that gets back to what I just talked about. Those three guys have done a phenomenal job in the offseason at getting together, organizing 7 on 7s, improving the team, being leaders, enjoy each others company. But we’ll see in the fall. We’ll see which direction we’re going. Noel Mazzone does a great job with them. The good news, I think, Bob, is that we’ve got more starts coming back in our offensive line, even by losing the two tackles. You’ve got more starts coming back on our offensive line than we had last year. We’ve got two really really talented running backs in Ford and in Trayveon Williams and I said this on television. Trayveon is the first true freshman running back in the history of Texas A&M to rush for over 1000 yards. And there’s been some pretty damn good running backs at Texas A&M in the course of time. So he’s an electric player, with all the starters up front and Christian Kirk, this offense will be quarterback friendly. The guy who understands that he doesn’t have to do everything, because of the players around him, like Keith Ford and Trayveon and Christian Kirk and a number of other talented players but understands he doesn’t have to do all that and takes care of the ball and can make some plays for us, that’ll be the guy that plays for us.”"
Oh yes, the question about the QB race. Personally, I think Hubes will start the first game, as he knows the offense best. He’s a solid quarterback. But if he’s struggling, look for Starkel to take over. Starkel may end up taking the spot before the season ends if the offense is missing a spark. I think Hubenak is good enough to lead the Aggies to great things, but we all know that more mobile quarterbacks, such as Mond, are all the rage now. I think Mond is the QB of the future, and should beat out Starkel next year.