Gabbert, Kappernick and Harris On Their Way to Possible Stellar Pro Careers

Three of the top quarterbacks in College Football will showcase their talents this weekend and several weekends to come. Actually, two of them squared off against each other Friday Night 25 September when Missouri traveled to Reno, NV to take on the Nevada Wolfpack.

Mizzou Soph. QB Blaine Gabbert threw for 414 and three touchdowns en route to a 31-21 win over Nevada in a nationally televised game on ESPN. Gabbert was quick, elusive and able to throw on the run. He particularly found his favorite wide receiver Damario Alexander nine times for 170 yards and one TD. this guy is just a Sophomore, yet if he continues to have performances like this and his team is in contention for the Big X11 Title, he is a Heisman Trophy candidate just like his predecessor Chase Daniel, who is now with the New Orleans Saints on their Practice Squad.

His opposite Friday Night was no less impressive. Jr. QB Colin Kapernick has shown that he can light it up in the passing department as well as rush the football. In the loss to the Tigers, Kapernick was 17-28 for 146 yards and one touchdown. He has rushed the ball 30 times this season for 122 yards and 1 touchdown this year. His team is 0-3, but has played three tough teams in Notre Dame, Colorado St. and Missouri. The WAC doesn't get any easier for them as #8 Boisie St. looms later in the season. so far this year, Kapernick has completed 54 of 89 passes for 546 yards and two touchdowns. The one glaring problem: 4 interceptions.

In spite of all this, Kapernick has the quickness, pocket presence and arm strength NFL scouts look for, as does Gabbert of Mizzou. Kapernick has been named to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award; the award given to the nation's top quarterback. In 2008, he emerged as one of the top QBs in the country and was named All-WAC Second Team by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. He currently has a pass efficiency rating of 110.63. If he were starting for a team in a BCS conference and the team was winning, he would also be on the Heisman watch.

The third of these quarterbacks mentioned in this blog is the most well-known because of who he plays for. Jacory Harris starts for "The U", The Miami Hurricanes. He has already put up outstanding numbers after just two games against Florida St. and Georgia Tech. Many, myself included, say that because of him and his surrounding cast, The U is back. Miami was consistently in the top 5 in the late 80s and early 90s under Jimmy Johnson and Dennis Erickson and won at least two national championships. Current Head Coach Randy Shannon was a key defensive player on those Miami teams. After a period of mediocrity in the late 90s, the Canes reemerged to win a national championship in 2001 and nearly duplicated the feat in 02 when they lost in OT to Ohio St., all of this under former Head Coach Larry Cocker. However, the U slipped back down to mediocrity. As a result, Cocker was fired and former Miami standout Randy Shannon was hired. He brought in Jacory Harris out of Miami-Northwestern HS, where Harris led his team to a Florida State Championship.

Harris, only a Sophomore, has already dazzled fans and pro scouts alike. He threw for 386 yards in the Hurricanes opening win over Florida St., including a 40 yard pass to Travis Benjamen in double coverage leading to a crucial made field goal. Against Georgia Tech, Harris was 20 for 25 for 270 yards and three TDs en route to a 33-17 wrecking of the ramblin reck. Before the Tech game, Harris said that the Hurricanes offense couldn't be stopped. He backed it up against the Jackets, and if he can back it up against Virginia Tech on Saturday and later against Oklahoma and the rest of the ACC, Harris will be holding the Heisman Trophy and the U will celebrate another national title.

The three QBS mentioned in this blog: Blaine Gabbert (Soph. Mizzou), Colin Kapernick (Jr. Nevada) and Jacory Harris (Soph. Miami) all have the talent, in my opinion. to have stellar pro careers. Lets hope, for their sakes, that their potential is realized.