LIKE IT IS : Help needed in assessing quarterback quartet

WALLY HALL

Posted on Thursday, October 9, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/239715/

There is a small quarterback controversy growing in the state.

Not at one school in particular, although some Arkansas Razorbacks fans believe Tyler Wilson needs more snaps. Bobby Petrino, though, is supposed to be the greatest thing to happen to quarterbacks since someone put laces on the ball, and he’s the one at practice every day.

The controversy is who is the best quarterback in the state. The truth is, a case can be made for several guys, but as a staff we narrowed it down to the four who are in the headlines the most, and readers get to vote on their choice.

The four choices are: Nathan Brown, Corey Leonard, Casey Dick and Scott Buisson.

Brown is the field general for the Central Arkansas Bears, a 6-2, 214-pounder with what has been described as a cannon for an arm.

With half of his senior season to go, he has passed for 8, 810 yards and 83 touchdowns in his career, and that’s good in any Division I conference. Brown is believed to have already attracted the attention of NFL scouts and could be the fifth quarterback drafted next spring. All you have to do is watch a couple of NFL games to see quarterbacks are a commodity. The big question isn’t Brown’s play, but how did Clint Conque, UCA’s head coach, slip into Russellville and get this young man. Steve Roberts went to Covington, La., to find Leonard, who also was a standout on the baseball team and was on the track team.

Leonard, 6-1, is a dual threat, with 1, 179 career rushing yards and 4, 666 passing yards midway through his junior season. He has thrown for 39 touchdowns and rushed for eight more. Leonard, who has already graduated, broke into the Red Wolves’ lineup as a freshman and in his second start led ASU to a victory over Memphis.

He is one of the main reasons the Red Wolves will be knocking on the door of the Sun Belt championship and trip to the New Orleans Bowl.

Because he plays for the Razorbacks, who draw an average of more than 70, 000 fans per game, Dick has gotten most of the headlines the past three seasons.

He lived through the drama that surrounded Mitch Mustain. He survived a misdiagnosed back injury when he lost the starting job to first Robert Johnson and then Mustain.

Then came the WildHog formation, which saw him leaving the field in the middle of drives or lining up as a decoy at wide receiver.

Still, he will leave the UA with several records if he continues at the rate he is going, including taking the most sacks, if they kept that as an official stat. He has spent more time on his back than Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel.

Dick has passed for 4, 359 yards and 39 touchdowns, which is pretty impressive when you consider his first three years he was a handoff machine for Darren McFadden, Felix Jones or Peyton Hillis.

Last, but definitely not least, is Buisson, who is the Wildcat formation.

Generously listed at 5-10, the monster from Metairie, La., is just a sophomore but has already rushed for 1, 339 yards and 14 touchdowns in his career, and he’s passed for 3, 981 yards and 33 scores.

He is doing it in Division II, but that’s pretty good football too.

Now comes the fun part: Your vote.

Just about every football-playing

college in the state of Arkansas has

a quarterback to brag about this

year, whether it be Scott Buisson

at Arkansas-Monticello, Nathan

Brown at Central Arkansas, Corey

Leonard at Arkansas State or

Casey Dick at the University of

Arkansas. All four have credentials

that are extolled in today’s section.

Read about their accomplishments

then tell us who you think is the

best quarterback in the state. arkansasonline. com / best-qb /