Quarterback
I’ve said it before and I’ll probably say it 20 more times before the season starts: this is the biggest decision Jimbo Fisher will make in 2018. That doesn’t take a lot of insight into football. The quarterback is far and away the most important player on a roster.
Based on his comments to the media, Fisher doesn’t seem eager to name a starter. He is taking his time with it for obvious reasons.
Starkel appears to be the front runner as of now. He has proven to be a more accurate passer on a consistent basis. He and Mond essentially split the snaps in 2017 after Starkel went down with an ankle injury in the first half against UCLA.
Mond, a true freshman at the time, replaced Starkel and was wildly erratic — forgivable for a true freshman thrust into action at the Rose Bowl. He eventually settled down but inconsistent play against Florida and Mississippi State led Sumlin to turn back to Starkel when he was healthy.
Some rumblings out of College Station have hinted Mond is pushing Starkel for the job and it’s closer than it looks from the outside. Mond would have to have taken massive strides from an accuracy standpoint to make that happen.
Whoever ends up winning the job just has to take on Clemson — with four first round draft picks on their defensive line ‚— and Alabama, who just won a national championship, in the first four weeks of the season. No big deal.
Here’s to hoping Fisher picks the right guy.
Jeff Shull is the Site Expert for the Gig Em Gazette on FanSided. Follow him on Twitter, and be sure to follow the Gig Em Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.