Of all the incredible things about LSU’s 13-0 run to the BCS title game this fall, quite possibly none was more impressive than this: The Tigers ran the table against college football’s toughest schedule with hardly a whiff of elite quarterback play. Jarrett Lee was good but not great through the Tigers first eight games, and when he gave way to Jordan Jefferson from there on out, Jefferson proved to be a steady hand, but never truly spectacular.
Looking at the statistics bears that out. On the season, neither quarterback completed more than 62 percent of their passes, and only twice did either go over 200 yards of passing. LSU won- and won big- because of their run game and defense. It’s a scary proposition to wonder what they might’ve done if the opposition actually had to fear- or at least respect- the pass.
Well, give it a year or two, and Tigers fans- not to mention the rest of college football – may have an answer.
That’s because on Tuesday night, the nation’s top prep quarterback, and a player believed to be one of the top players regardless of position in the high school class of 2012 made his college decision. And according to published reports, Columbus, Indiana signal-caller Gunner Kiel has elected to head to Baton Rouge in the fall. As they say, “You’re either a tiger…or you’re tiger bait,” and Kiel has apparently elected to be the former.
The news brings to end a long recruitment that had more twists and turns than one of Les Miles’ rambling speeches to the media.
While the recruitment obviously started long before Kiel’s senior year, it seemed to come to a head this past July, when he picked the Indiana Hoosiers as his college destination of the future. And while that marriage of elite football recruit and a school with little tradition was a bit surprising, at the time it did make sense. Kiel is an Indiana kid and his brother Dusty Kiel was already on the roster in Bloomington, not to mention that the Hoosiers had just hired Kevin Wilson away from Oklahoma a few months prior. Wilson of course, was the offensive coordinator for some of the most explosive offenses in recent college football history, including a record-breaking, Heisman Trophy winning season in 2008 for Sam Bradford.
Unfortunately for the 11 people who care about Indiana football, Kiel wouldn’t stay committed to the Hoosiers for long. He eventually de-committed from the school in the fall, reopened his recruitment, and ended up with a final list that included Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and LSU. And apparently Les Miles’ charm became too much on Tuesday night, as Kiel became the 22nd commitment in the Tigers class of 2012.
Now the interesting thing becomes how quickly the superstar signal-caller will see the field.
With both Lee and Jefferson using up their eligibility this year, it opens up the door under center in 2012 in Baton Rouge. The odds on favorite appears to be Zach Mettenberger, a junior college transfer who originally began his career at Georgia. Mettenberger won over Tigers fans with a big spring game, but was hardly effective once the real games began this fall. He threw just 11 passes this season, and will have two years of eligibility left. Behind him, three freshman- all of whom are redshirting right now- wait, with Kiel expected to be the only quarterback recruit in 2012.
As to whether Miles would dare burn the redshirt on his prized recruit, there really is no historical precedent to say so one way or the other.
In Miles’ time in Baton Rouge, the only truly “elite” quarterback talent the ‘Hatter has ever had was JaMarcus Russell, a player he inherited in his first year as head coach. And after the Tigers won the Sugar Bowl with Russell under center, it was actually Matt Flynn who led the LSU to a BCS title the following year. Like the 2011 LSU team, the 2007 Tigers won on the strength of their defense and running game that year. Meaning that for all the talent Miles has developed over the years, his best teams have usually had success based on the strength of everything but the quarterback play.
Whether that will change with Kiel’s arrival or not remains to be seen.
But one scary thing remains to be seen: If Les Miles can win THIS big with average quarterback play, it’s anyone’s guess what he’s capable of with a superstar at the position.
For all his insight, opinion and analysis on college football, follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres.
