Starters in, starters out. That’s college football. Players’ eligibility expires, and they leave for the rest of their lives, whether that includes the NFL or not.
And they leave behind shoes of various sizes that need to be filled.
Our concern with this series? The biggest shoes -- in some cases Shaq-like size 23s.
Biggest shoes: QB Matt Scott
Without question, it's the quarterback who guided the Wildcats to an 8-5 mark in their first season under Rich Rodriguez and was second-team all-conference who leaves the biggest shoes to fill. Scott led the Pac-12 and finished sixth nationally in total offense, accounting for almost 344 yards per game. He completed 60.3 percent of his throws with 27 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. He also rushed for six touchdowns. He was tailor-made for the RichRod offense, and in just one season helped elevate the profile of the program -- so much so that the Wildcats are being discussed as a team in play for the South title in 2013. The question is, how much of a drop-off will there be in his absence?
Stepping in: To be determined ...
Everyone loves a quarterback competition -- except for coaches, who would much rather have their starter already in place when spring starts. But the Arizona quarterback-to-be has some great weapons to work with -- like the nation's leading rusher last year in Ka'Deem Carey and a potential Biletnikoff Award finalist in Austin Hill. Worth noting, too, that whoever wins the job will also be working with a new center with Chris Putton and Beau Boyster in the mix to replace Kyle Quinn. B.J. Denker, Jesse Scroggins, Javelle Allen, and incoming freshman Anu Solomon will all get a chance -- though Denker has been getting a lot of the reps this spring with Scroggins recovering from foot surgery. Denker had a little bit of work last season -- though Solomon could be the X factor as one of the higher-rated dual-threat quarterbacks.
