God help us if we have to rely on starting a freshman every year. We should be deep enough at QB that freshmen redshirt and then spend a year with a clipboard before seeing the field as a backup. We need more two-year starters that are juniors and seniors instead of freshmen and sophomores.
Yeah, it kinda is. The whole point of the redshirt. You're the one that chose the Heisman winner for comparison...
Yeah it is a huge difference. It's an entire season and possibly 2 off seasons learning the offense. You don't think a year on the sideline learning helped Jameis?
There is a HUUUGE difference between a true freshman versus a redshirt freshman although Jennings enrolled early and participated in spring practices so that is worth noting. I thought Jennings struggled at times. I think the wet field was a factor regarding mobility. On one hand, it seemed as though the coaching staff was overly protecting him early in the game and not letting Jennings show what he can do. On the other hand, our 1st drive went right down the field for a TD with all running plays so I can't complain. It should also be noted that Iowa has a really good D that was as healthy as they had been all year.
They said during the game that there were 12 practices for the bowl game, so that's how many practices Jennings took with the 1st team offense. That ain't a lot, especially when going up against a good defense.
In the spring game, Jennings was poised and threw on time to open receivers with a variety of different passes. In the Arkansas game, he looked like a future legend. In the Iowa game, he looked like a freshman.
How many of these day one starters has Sumlin recruited? None. He inherited a couple decent redshirt freshmen QBs that turned out to be pretty good. This may help him in the future, but he hasn't done shit as far as recruiting a QB.
What's funny is that you listed 3 coaches who didn't even do what you're saying they did and then asked why 1 coach couldn't do what they did (the one coach that did start a true freshman went 4-8 that year). Do you know that there's over 100 other coaches in D-1A? What's keeping them from doing the same???
Yeah the human mind is crazy like that. Throw someone into a game in the fourth quarter, their instincts take over. Give the same person a month to think about it and all kinds of doubts and insecurities can take hold.