With Nick Fanuzzi cleaning out his locker on Monday, it got me to thinking. Will Alabama ever keep a full compliment of scholarship quarterbacks again?
Fanuzzi’s departure leaves the Tide with three scholarship quarterbacks for the upcoming season: senior John Parker Wilson, sophmore Greg McElroy, and freshman Star Jackson. Sure, there are walk ons Thomas Darrah and Morgan Ogilvie, but it will be a bad day at the office if either gets on the field.
The exit of Fanuzzi brings back into focus the question of what would have happened if Nick Saban never hired Major Applewhite? Applewhite is, by all accounts, the one who wanted to sign Fanuzzi instead of Robert Mavre.
To refresh your memory, Mavre was a four star recruit out of Florida who was committed to Alabama before Saban was hired. When Saban hired Applewhite, Fanuzzi suddenly became the guy who would help lead the Tide back to glory and Mavre was told thanks but no thanks.
Recruiting rankings are all subjective but I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Fanuzzi was a three star ranked player by Rivals.com and Mavre was, as mentioned earlier, a four star ranked player. Did I mention that Mavre was recently named starter at his ultimate destination, Miami?
With rising high school senior AJ McCarron already committed to Alabama it seemed that there would be no other signal callers in this class. Is Coach Saban now forced to rethink this now? After this season only McElroy and Jackson will be on scholarship (provided Darrah doesn’t earn one in the mean time). With McCarron enrolling in the fall of ‘09 that brings the number to three.
That doesn’t seem like enough.
Will Alabama try to get Rivals.com four star recruit Ryan Mossakowski to rethink his commitment to Kentucky after the Wildcats picked up a pledge by Carmel, IN QB Morgan Newton? Newton is a Rivals.com three star recruit but is compared to former UK quarterback Andre Woodson.
A guy that might be getting some attention from the Tide staff is Leroy, AL QB Clint Moseley. Moseley is a three star recruit by rivals.com and led his team to a state championship as a junior.
Will Saban decide that three quarterbacks is enough? Ultimately, that it will depend on whether or not he thinks Darrah could carry the water at the position if push came to shove. Certainly, that’s not an ideal scenario, but if Saban thinks it’s a plausible one, he may be able to hold off.
Otherwise, it may be time to break out the QB shopping list.
Related posts:
- Nick Fanuzzi Leaves the Team Nick Fanuzzi has left the team. He’ll be transferring elsewhere,...
- Player Profile: Nick Fanuzzi Nick Fanuzzi - #18 – QB – 6-3 – 207...
- Recruiting Update Now that bowl practice has officially started and Coach Saban...
- August Recruiting Snapshot 2008 RECRUITING If you want recruiting coming out your eyes,...
- Coach Mac’s Impact: What Does Jim McElwain Bring to Alabama? “Coach Mac” - as Nick Saban likes to call Jim...
RU to QB Crump?
Comment by scottnola1 — August 27, 2008 @ 9:37 am
Also Mavre is suspended for Miami’s opener. He may be a problem child.
Comment by hawgtide — August 27, 2008 @ 9:49 am
I think you must have Brett Favre on your mind (Mavre?).
I don’t know if there might have been other issues with Marve. With what little I’ve seen of Darrah, I think it’s very possible he could do in an emergency. In the manner of G Hollingsworth.
In the end, if we are constantly (maybe exclusively) signing top-rated QBs in the future, there’s no doubt that quite a few who see themselves unable to rise above the #3 spot will ultimately transfer.
Comment by Relayer — August 27, 2008 @ 10:40 am
I’d like to see what Smelley could do.
Comment by Drifter — August 27, 2008 @ 11:51 am
How likely that McCarron opts for baseball?
Comment by spree63 — August 27, 2008 @ 2:23 pm
I would like to blame Applewhite as well, but that might not be fair here. Even if he wanted Fanuzzi more, I have my doubts Saban could be talked into anything if he didn’t feel the same way.
Also, there were rumors that Marve’s father wanted more of a guarantee that Robert was their man. That could have rubbed Saban the wrong way as well.
Comment by bgbama — August 27, 2008 @ 5:15 pm
Relayer -
Actually that is how he spells his name. Mavre.
Comment by Crump — August 27, 2008 @ 8:18 pm
Thanks, Crump.
Sorry to be argumentative, but are you sure? His official University of Miami Player Profile spells it Marve, as do Rival, Scout, Miami Herald, ESPN, Sporting News, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Orland Sentinel, and on and on.
His father Eugene played in the NFL for the Buccaneers, the Chargers, and the Buffalo Bills. All those team sites refer to his father as Marve, as does the NFL.com site.
In any case, I appreciate wht you guys do here. Thanks for many great articles!
Comment by Relayer — August 27, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
Relayer -
Huh. I looked at The Miami roster and it is spelled Marve. When do a little research in this It was spelled the other way some other place on rivals. when googled it also came up that way.
I think the lesson here is this kid needs to get a name that is easier to spell!
Thanks for reading…and keeping me in check!
Comment by Crump — August 27, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
The good news is it’s pronounced MAR-vre.
Comment by Ell — August 28, 2008 @ 6:40 am