Spring Ball - Quarterback

Spring practices are here, and hoops is done :(

Time to start talking 2021 football. It looks like Buffalo survived the coaching carousel, again, and Lance Leipold and company will be back in the fall to defend their division title and hopefully get that first conference title since the Turrner Gill days.

I’m going to try to do a series of pieces on who we can expect to see starting in the fall, with some mentions of other big contributors and potential position battles.

Probable Starter - Kyle Vantrease

Ok, if UB can win the MAC title this year, and that’s a long ways away, then Kyle Vantrease will easily become the most successful Buffalo quarterback ever.

Who saw that coming when Tyree Jackson decided to forego his senior season to enter the NFL draft? Show of hands?

Vantrease, who was a career backup at that point didn’t even win a clsoe quarterback competition to win the job in 2019. It was not until Matt Myers was injured early in the season.

Kyle was looked at by fans as a Frank Reich type. Good head on his shoulders but not going to blow anyone away with his physical play.

And...

There is some truth to that assessment. I’ve not too often said “I can’t believe he made that play”. But Kyle is so dang heady and knowledgeable about the offense that he’s seldom in the position of having to pull out an amazing throw.

Makes a good throw, to the right guy in the situation with a nice touch. Or, reads nothing is there and runs for a decent gain. Or, just takes the sack and does not make a stupid play.

Whatever he does, it works. A division title and two bowl wins in as many years is owed mainly to an amazing running game but it also would not have happened without Vantrease.

Competition -

Matt Myers

Physically gifted QB who showed a lot of promise as a freshman before getting injured. He’s now had two seasons to learn the offense. If he is anywhere near as heady as Vantrease then the Junior (who has three years of eligibility left) could give Vantrease a run for his money this spring.

If Myers does not win the job then he’s got to be the favorite for 2022.

Trevor Bycznski and Casey Case are trying to out dual each other for reps and a spot on the roster as the third QB this year.

UB also has a walk on, Aaron Chase, who will get a chance at some reps this spring.