Georgia State opens Fall practice on August 4 with severe depth questions at QB. 2010 starter Drew Little? He has been benched for the first four games due to rules violations. Star Jackson? He left the team in Spring. Kelton Hill? Arrested for felony burglary on June 22. So who is going to start for the Panthers on Sept. 2?
It is unlikely that the Panthers could land a viable starter via FBS transfer by the time fall practice opens on August 4, so the battle between converted punter Bo Schlechter and true freshman Ben McLane will produce your starter for the Clark Atlanta game.
Schlechter is the more experienced out of the two, as he was recruited as a quarterback out of Glades Day High in Wellington, Florida, and 2011 marks his third year in the program. He slid down the depth chart last season behind Little, Hill and Alabama transfer Star Jackson. Bo has thrown one career pass, an incompletion, on a fake punt vs. Jacksonville State. He was expected to contend for FCS All American honors at punter in 2011 and still could if he remains at punter.
McLane arrived in June and is coming off an undefeated season as he led Brookwood HS AAAAA state title in 2010. Ben has very good feet and accuracy but is not very mobile. He throws a very good deep ball and has good arm strength.
The Panthers coaching staff will likely shrink the playbook and utilize shorter passes to the Panthers experienced receiving corps. I do not expect either QB will be asked to do much, and the Panthers will again open a season with an inexperienced leader under center.
I expect Ben McLane to rise to this challenge and show his championship pedigree to snatch the starting nod vs. Clark Atlanta on September 2 in the Georgia Dome. The results may be mixed but if his last game on the Dome turf was any indication, he can certainly handle the pressure.