Rivals.com QB Week: Five most polarizing quarterbacks
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Often times, a quarterback is the face of a team. It’s why they get the praise and the headlines. It’s also why they get the criticism and endure the snark. Still, some quarterbacks are more controversial than others. Below is a look back at the recruitments of some of the most polarizing quarterbacks to play the game in recent years, complete with a quote from Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell, who covered all five as prospects.
1. TIM TEBOW
Dual-threat quarterback
5 STARS
Florida
Ponte Vedra Beach
RR: 6.1
Ht: 6'3.0"
Wt: 217.0
Class: 2006
Commitment status:
signed
Recruitment: Florida and Alabama battled for Tebow well into his senior season. The Gators were always seen as the favorite, but Tebow, the No. 1 quarterback in his class, took five official visits before choosing the Gators in mid-December.
Why he’s polarizing: Because of Skip Bayless? One of the best college football quarterbacks in history, Tebow won the Heisman trophy but struggled, as some predicted, in the NFL. His slide from greatness to mediocrity made him easy fodder for sports debate shows. Tebow, a late first-round pick, dominated the NFL headlines for more than a year, which created Tebow fatigue among fans. His outward Christian beliefs and tendency to discuss them in all settings also became a talking point.
Farrell remembers: “Tebow had that funky release and poor mechanics in high school. He was also one of the most physically powerful quarterbacks I’ve scouted, a great leader and a kid who had a ton of charisma. People ask me all the time if Tebow’s character was an act, but in every interaction I had with him, he was the genuine article – just a great kid. We decided to make him a five-star based on his ability to run, be a leader at the next level and we assumed his mechanics would improve. They didn’t get a ton better, but he was still a dominant college player.”
2. COLIN KAEPERNICK
Pro-style quarterback
3 STARS
Nevada
Turlock
RR: 5.5
Ht: 6'4.0"
Wt: 172.0
Class: 2006
-
NATIONAL
Commitment status:
signed
AP
Recruitment: Not much to see here. A three-star prospect, Kaepernick committed to Nevada and lists no other offers on his Rivals.com profile. As a recruit, Kaepernick was about as plain as they come.
Why he became polarizing: Kaepernick didn’t become buzzed about until the 2016 season, during which he declined to stand for the national anthem in an effort to protest and draw attention to police brutality in America. More than a full season later, he still dominates headlines and sports talk shows. The debate over whether or not Kaepernick , who remains unsigned, is being blackballed by the NFL rages on today.
Farrell remembers: “As polarizing as he is now, Kaepernick was not polarizing in high school aside from his funky, sidearm release and lack of accuracy. He could run for sure and was very dangerous with his feet, but watching him thrown the ball was painful at times. His evaluation was mainly on film, although he did attend one Elite 11 we were at and it wasn’t that pretty.”
3. JOHNNY MANZIEL
Dual-threat quarterback
3 STARS
Texas A&M
Kerrville
RR: 5.7
Ht: 6'1.0"
Wt: 193.0
Class: 2011
-
NATIONAL
Commitment status:
signed
AP
Recruitment: Manziel’s height was an issue for him as a prospect as some schools didn’t see him as a quarterback. Maziel was recruited by a number of schools, including Texas, which wanted to play him at defensive back.
Why he became polarizing: Cocaine, beer bongs, sub tweets, that kind of stuff. To most fan bases outside of A&M, Manziel, the 2012 Heisman Trophy winner, was a real life wrestling heel during college. The hard partying undersized quarterback was drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. His career in the league was short lived because of substance abuse issues, injuries and other controversies. There was a certain segment of football fans that hoped Manziel would fail because of his off-field persona.
Farrell remembers: “Manziel was a fun quarterback to watch but his lack of size forced him to work out at some events as a wide receiver and try to pursue a college scholarship at that position. His arm strength was solid but not spectacular, his accuracy was solid but many felt he would have trouble finding passing lanes at the next level. So much for that. Oregon was where he originally committed, but a coaching change at Texas A&M led to the local program taking a shot on him.”
4. JIMMY CLAUSEN
Pro-style quarterback
5 STARS
Notre Dame
Westlake Village
RR: 6.1
Ht: 6'3.0"
Wt: 200.0
Class: 2007
Commitment status:
signed
Getty Images
Recruitment: The No. 1 prospect in the class of 2007, Claussen considered a number of schools but was most involved with USC and Notre Dame. He chose the Irish during a ceremony at the college football Hall of Fame. That’s where the polarization kicked in.
Why he became polarizing: For being a pioneer of sorts. Claussen was one of the first major prospects to have a drawn out, televised college announcement. He arrived at the event in a Hummer limousine, which was, for some reason, cool in 2006. The pomp that surrounded his recruitment was by no means the norm back then and soured some on Clausen, who had an up-and-down college career before becoming a second-round pick.
Farrell remembers: “Clausen was controversial for a few reasons out of high school. He wasn’t that big, he was older than almost everyone in his class and his commitment at the college football Hall of Fame while flashing his high school title rings went over poorly. But to me he was always ultra-talented, a good leader and could make all the throws. I think his career at Notre Dame was marred by an awful offensive line, but he still had a very good run with the Irish.”
5. CAM NEWTON
Dual-threat quarterback
5 STARS
Auburn
Brenham
RR: 6.1
Ht: 6'6.0"
Wt: 247.0
Class: 2010
-
POSITION
-
STATE
Commitment status:
signed
Recruitment: A two time five-star, Newton was the No. 28 player in the country out of high school and the No. 1 player out of junior college three years later. He choose Florida over Georgia as a high school prospect and transferred to Blinn County (Texas) Community College after off-field issues at UF. He choose Auburn over finalists Mississippi State and Oklahoma. And that’s where the controversy came in.
Why he became polarizing: Newton became a hot button topic in SEC country after circumstances surrounding his recruitment surfaced. Allegations that his father had asked for money in exchange for his son’s commitment consumed much of the 2010 season. The fact that he led Auburn to the national title and won the Heisman Trophy that year only magnified the controversy. Newton remains one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and while not as polarizing as some on this list, remains an oft-debated figure.
Farrell remembers: “Newton had all the talent in the world. Out of high school, we were blown away by his size and how much he improved his touch and accuracy by our final eval at the Offense-Defense bowl and in JUCO he was just dominant. There was little doubt he’d be a star out of high school and again when he had to re-set his career in junior college, but we certainly didn’t expect a Heisman and such a dominance of college football during his one year at Auburn.”
