BGSU QB Room Spring 2021

The BG quarterback room is getting pretty full this spring and I am excited for it. It sucks for kids to go somewhere and not start at all during their years in school but backups are important and very much needed. This past season, Matt McDonald started all 5 games and struggled mightily. McDonald threw 1 touchdown, 6 interceptions, and only completed 43% of his passes. I personally saw a lot of great things from the kid. Matt played tough, played hurt, and looked like a leader and personally has my vote to start the 2021 season. To judge any QB playing with that bad of an O line in front of him, and too many freshmen to count would be wrong. So let us run through our QBs, in no particular order. This room is getting full and has 5 freshman currently on the roster.

1. Matt McDonald redshirt Junior

    Matt originally committed to Boston College, a Power 5 school in the ACC where Scot was offensive coordinator. Matt was going to start in 2019 but his eligibility was denied by the NCAA. In 2018, McDonald went 7-8 in passing for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns in one game at BC. He was a 3 star prospect out of high school and I am still a huge fan of the kid. He was a Power 5 player so he must have some upside potential and was great in his small snap count at Boston. He was highly recruited, and his dad played in the NFL which is cool. I want to see him start in 2021 but I trust the coaches to figure this out in spring camp.

2. LaBronz Davis redshirt Freshman

    LaBronz was recruited by the Mike Jinks staff out of Westerville Ohio. I could not find a 247 account on LaBronz so I am assuming he is a walk on. Davis threw two passes last year, going 0-2 with an interception. He seems like a really smart kid, but I really cannot find a lot about his as a player. His high school stats were average at best, so I am assuming he must have really wowed the coaches when trying out for BG. His hudl tape has some good pocket presence and accuracy so he could be a potential starter when McDonald leaves but I could not see him starting in 2021. LaBronz actually entered the transfer portal a couple months ago but ended up coming back to Bowling Green!

3. Drew Gunther redshirt Freshman

    Drew was recruited by former BG coach Dino Babers as a preferred walk on at Syracuse. Drew then entered the transfer portal and decided to come to BGSU where his old coach used to be. Gunther has 0 stars on his 247 profile but it is still cool that he was able to play at a Power 5 school. I am excited for him to finally come to northwest Ohio and see what he can do. He was all-Southeastern PA in 2018 with a record of 22-3 as a starter. Gunther threw 54 touchdowns and just shy of 5 thousand yards in high school. I am very excited to have Drew on the team and think he will bring some great practice habits to this squad.

4. Tucker Melton Freshman

    Tucker Melton comes to us from Alabama. Melton was rated 3 stars by 247 and received other FBS offers from Akron and Arkansas State. Melton is part of Scot's first recruiting class and has a lot of upside potential. Melton racked up 39 touchdowns in high school and after watching his hudl tape it is clear why he was highly recruited by our staff. He has speed and agility but does not leave the pocket too quickly. Melton has the ability to throw with a man in his face and I am stoked to see this kid hit the field in the Orange and Brown. Tucker and Riley Keller are two guys I could see competing for the starting job in 2021 but they may need to redshirt and get some more experience first. 

5. Riley Keller Freshman

    Keller comes from Whitmer High in the Toledo area. Riley was also rated 3 stars on 247 and chose BG over Power 5 schools such as Ole Miss, West Virginia, and Iowa State. NIU and Toledo also offered him but Riley decided to come to Bowling Green. Kelller has great touch when he throws the football and the ability to keep plays alive with his footwork. Boasting a few P5 offers also gets me excited to see if this kid can play considering an SEC school came calling. Keller can redshirt this season, and possibly start by his sophomore year. It will be very interesting to see how him and Melton battle for the job in a year or two.

6. Kody Sparks Freshman

    Kody Sparks is a preferred walk on who hails from Tennessee. Sparks has some great tape as all of these guys will have, but his work ethic and character really stand out to me. I read an interview where he said he was just excited to be a Falcon and help this team win in any way that he can. Answers like those get me fired up for a player, guys that are team first people who want their teammates to be successful whether they are the starter or not. Sparks was a 2 star recruit by 247 and received his only FBS offer from our rival Kent State where Sparks instead chose to become a Falcon.

As you can see how room is nice and full with 5 freshman! Unfortunately, some of these kids will probably transfer due to the fact that only one guy can play at a time but I am excited. There is a lot of talent here but we need an O line that can protect these kids and bring this team to the moon and back to some bowl games!