Zach Mettenberger is in a great position to unseat Jordan Jefferson as the LSU Tigers starting QB this spring and eventually lead the supremely talented Tigers to its first national title since 2007.
If that was to be the case, Mettenberger would have completed an incredible turnaround that saw him being kicked out of Georgia last April while serving as a redshirt freshman signal caller for violating team rules.
At the time of his dismissal, Mettenberger has just upended current starter and highly regarded Aaron Murray for the Bulldogs’ quarterback job.
Physical speaking, the 6-foot-5, 245 pound Mettenberger is an impressive athlete. He has cannon for an arm and is surprisingly nimble for his size which helps him elude the rush in his only year as started in the JUCO ranks.
Despite throwing 299 footballs for the Grizzlies of the Butler Community College in Kansas, Mettenberger was sacked only 32 times (for a net loss of 220 yards).
The sack total would have been much higher if not at least eight amazing showings of athleticism in several games during the year.
Overall, the product of El Dorado, KS. passed for 2,678 yards (176-299) for a 58.1 completition percentages, 32 TDs and 4 interceptions, accumulating a 166.74 passing efficiency rating in 13 games played, including a 6 TD, 382-yards effort against the Hutchinson Blue Dragons.
His team went undefeated until they met Navarro Community College (TX) in the Citizen’s Bank Bowl, which the Grizzlies lost 13-12.
Mettenberger went 17-28 for 168 yards and one score against one of the stingiest defenses in the JUCO ranks last fall.
That loss aside, Mettenberger demonstrated during his sole season in Junior College why he was highly recruited out of high school in 2009.
He showed go zip on deeps out and a strong command of the middle of the field beyond the 15 yard range. The problem is that his accuracy tends to diminish in close, a surprising development for a young quarterback.
Nearly 45 percent of his incompletion came to TEs running crossing routs less than 15 yards from the line of scrimmage.
Mettenberger needs to work on his slow release that tend to make his passes more deliberate, allowing fast defensive backs, such as the ones he would be facing in the South Eastern Conference, to break and close fast on the football.
He also does not stride in his throws which also limit his accuracy and velocity in the short area allowing defenders better angles at the pass.
Still, his is an overall better prospect than Jefferson because he can provide the Tigers with something they have lacked for three years, a consistent vertical passing attack.
By Raul Colon
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