I prefer to be a messenger of positivity, not a writer/blogger/author/hack who revels in schadenfreude whilst lambasting the college football fortunes of 17-to-21 year olds.

Bearcat QB Tony Pike drives through a pass in the 2009 Orange Bowl (Icon SMI)

But the Big East crew of quarterbacks is a motley one indeed.

I have spent an inordinate amount tracking the Big East – I first blamed our new friends at CFFI (see Big East Mock Draft), but realized that this traditional fantasy powerhouse conference has many untried starters at the skill positions. All skill positions. So my glass-half-full nature feels that this should allow for some value opportunities in your draft.

Today I break down the quarterbacks in the Big East for the 2009 fantasy college football season.

Please remember that tops in the Big East =  all-120 QB2 at best.

1. Tony Pike, Cincinnati – Now here is a player with upside. Pike no longer must fight for his job with Ben Mauk failing on his sixth year of eligibility waiver and Demetrius Jones moved to LB. Give him targets like WR Mardy Gilyard and JUCO stud Jamar Howard, mis in some extra possessions due to a defense with just one returning starter and an average BE schedule and Pike could make a deep value QB1 or a solid QB2.

2. Matt Grothe, USF - here we have an average fantasy QB leading an underperforming team for the fourth straight year. If the rest of the Bulls play up to their potential, Grothe could easily emerge as a Top 20 fantasy QB – not as big a reach as you may think, given his total offense rankings the last three years as 21-30-17. His issues for fantasy players clearly reside with TD passes, with anemic rankings of 43-65-47 (Graham Harrell almost threw for as many TDs as Grothe was ranked!), and since it didn’t change in Years Two and Three I cannot fathom a change in Year Four.3. Jarrett Brown, West Virginia – more upside than Grothe, but more potential voltaility of results. when he subbed in for Patrick White the last couple years, he looked like a bigger version with a bigger arm. Coach Bill Stewart wants to throw the ball more, and while White put up his best passing numbers of his career it is easy to see those eclipsed by the more physically imposing Brown. I mentioned in my Mountaineer preview that the early schedule is doable, so it will either be Noel Devine or Brown that will make the most noise. My mind can think of many ways that Brown can be the #1 in the conference, but the safer pick is Pike.

4. Zach Frazer, UConn – (REACH ALERT) Huskies have ditched the run-first sets of the Donald Brown era and are now committed to a no-huddle spread offense. Frazer waits in the weeds as his career path traveled from an Elite 11 invite in 2005 (hat tips to others there like Tebow, Stafford, Freeman, Snead and the Juice Williams) to Notre Dame and now to Storrs.  Frazer failed to solidify the starting gig in the spring, but I am leaning to his talent taking over in the fall and doing pretty damn well. I currently have him as my projected 19th round pick in my legacy Central Florida College Fantasy Football League.

5. Adam Froman, Louisville – with more turnover on the Cardinals QB depth chart than the Obama cabinet appointments, JUCO Adam Froman likely gets the keys to a Cadillac.  Unfortunately, Coach Steve Kragthorpe needs to get the wheels back on the road. RB Victor Anderson will be the offensive workhorse, but Froman can throw to some nice talents in WR Josh Chichester and Doug Beaumont. I REALLY want to believe in the Greg Paulus Experiment/Experience but Froman deserves to be ranked higher.

Others:

Greg Paulus, Syracuse – line of the pre-season for me from Brett McMurphy of the Tampa Tribune:

former Duke point guard Greg Paulus…hasn’t played competitive football in five years? (Wait for it, here it comes…) Well, he should fit right in: neither has Syracuse.

Seriously, if you have a speculative QB3 spot to fill, the only thing that might keep you from taking a shot here would be the September schedule against the Big Ten including my #3 defense Penn State. OK, tactically the upside makes him worth a October pickup just on the fact he has Mike Williams to throw to?

Bill Stull and Pat Bostick, Pitt - I might regret this one since the September schedule is a series of easy defenses until NC State. Plus they a loaded WR corps. Both of these QBs were big time recruits so there is potential.

Despite the bad vibe of the Wannstedt there have been some successful fantasy QB here (Palko, Rutherford) and even the ones who have transferred have kicked some butt (Luke Getsy to Akron, Joe Flacco to Delaware)

???, Rutgers – Ah intrigue. With that cupcake schedule (including two FCS teams and key BE games at home on short weeks), maybe Dom Natale or DC Jefferson will rock it in Piscataway. “The Mighty” Jabu Lovelace recovers from ankle surgery as I type and maybe his skills get in the mix also.

Related posts:

1. Big East Mock Draft with CFFI – bare cupboards
2. Big East Bookends: Bulls on Parade?
3. Big East Wide Receiver 2009 Rankings
4. Big East Bookends – REW/FF thru the spotlight games
5. Big East Bookends for Week One: At least they aren’t the ACC

Tags: Big East, QB, Schadenfreude