2023 QB Position Preview

2023 QB Position Preview

QBs battling (photo via Toledo Blade)

Looking back at 2022

Matt McDonald is a BG legend. He came here to help rebuild a dead program and he succeeded. Took some bad losses in 2020, upset Minnesota in 2021, and beat Toledo and made a bowl game in 2022. Matty was a freaking gamer, making plays happen when there was pressure and seeming no open window. It is going to be HARD to replace Matty Ice but someone has got to do it and do it well. QB is the most position for a reason. Matt threw for over 2500 yards, over 20 touchdowns and had big throws in big wins. 

Departures

The portal is the most volatile for QBs. Only one can play so everyone tries to find a team to start on and 2nd string is not the same in the QB room as any other position. Matt McDonald graduates, Owen Bainbridge transfers to D2 Notre Dame College, and Daelen Menard transferred in from BC just to head to New Hampshire FCS after spring. 

Incoming

Coach Loeffler brings in Connor Bazelak from Indiana/Missouri and is obviously the most high profile name. Bazelak had a Georgia offer out of high school, was the 2020 SEC Freshman of the Year for Mizzou and now is looking to come back to Ohio. Hayden Timosciek transfers in from Purdue while Lucian Anderson and Coleman Teasdale are high school recruits. 

Who will start in 2023?

Coach Loeffler will wait until the game at Liberty to announce the start which I love. The battle is between Cam Orth and Connor Bazelak. I have zero idea who will start. Bazelak has a ton of experience and the higher ceiling as a prospect but Orth has been here longer and as seen in 2022 can really use his legs to add another dimension to the offense. My official hunch is Bazelak but either way with two QBs this good, whoever ends up starting will have earned it and that gives me confidence the offense will have another good year. 

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