While Syracuse has its own quarterback competition issues, Tennessee is dealing with its own set of challenges on who might be under center to begin the season. This ongoing battle for both schools comes on the heels of the college football season, which these two teams play each other in the first week in Atlanta in the Aflac Kickoff Game.
For the Orange, it’s a battle between former LSU backup quarterback Rickie Collins and a recent transfer from Notre Dame, Steve Angeli, who backed up Riley Leonard.
In recent news, it’s been known that SU head coach Fran Brown plans to make a decision on the starting quarterback after the team’s second scrimmage.
“After the second scrimmage, though, for me, I’m going to pick who’s going to be the guy. Who’s going to lead the team and we’re going to run with that guy. The other guy will be number two and we’ll just keep going,” Brown said, according to 247Sports.
Brown has also noted that “There’s a lot of programs who would die to be in the position that we’re in,” the ‘Cuse head coach says.
Of note, it seems to be that the starting job is Collins spot to lose because of the fact that he was at Syracuse first and was given his opportunity in the spring when he was named the starter before Angeli’s transfer and an injury concern.
Brown says, “Steve’s too good to not give him a fair opportunity. To be able to come in and compete. But it’ll be Rickie’s spot to lose because he was here. He got to work with us in the spring and we got to see what Rickie can do.”
Brown also has said that it’s a “let the best man” win type of mentality and that many other college football teams would die to be in the position that Syracuse is in.
With all of this being said, it’ll be interesting to see how both teams fare in Atlanta because of the quarterback situation with both teams.
