LSU’s Choice For The Future: Brandon Harris

by Dylan Brossette (Special to ESPN 1420)

If a stronger case has been made for why Brandon Harris should be the starting quarterback for LSU, I need to hear it.

I have been split on my feelings toward both Harris and current starter Anthony Jennings, but must admit I feel it is time to see the future as it relates to the true-freshman from Bossier City’s Parkway High School after he came in and nearly led the comeback against Mississippi State last night.

It was widely publicized just how close the battle for signal-calling duties were during the Tigers’ training camp, with Les Miles never quite revealing the exact rationale behind tabbing Jennings the starter. In the first three games of 2014, and going back to the bowl game, Jennings never did any one facet of the game so well that I felt it warranted real excitement for the future of the position after Zach Mettenberger left for the NFL. Jennings struggled for 2 ½ quarters against Wisconsin, then slept-walked his way through opportunities to pad stats against ULM and Sam Houston State.

Some of you may think I’m being a classic “jump the gun” journalist, seeing one flash of greatness and anointing the player responsible the next great thing. However, going back to Harris’ senior year and the 5A title game matchup against Acadiana, we saw a lot of what he did last night on display. A guy fighting until the end and giving his side a chance to win the game.

I feel as though Harris sees the field better than Jennings, has a stronger arm and is also more physically suited to play the position overall. Nary do we see Harris rolling out of the pocket to find sight lines like Jennings is often times forced to do. Harris outperformed Jennings in both of the Tigers’ public scrimmages, leading me to think the decision to start the veteran had a lot more to do with Miles’ belief that Jennings had a better understanding of how to turn and hand the ball off to one of the three running backs better than Harris did during week one.

I think after last season’s aerial assault, the first in a lot of Tiger fans’ memories, it is going to be a real struggle for Miles to force feed this fan base his brand of two-down runs and third down passing offense. Especially when that same fan base knows about the backup with such capabilities and natural aptitude for passing, such as Harris has.

Furthermore, you could see the excitement in the body language of Harris’ offensive mates when he stepped onto the field during crunch time. Will there be freshman mistakes? Most likely. Will LSU fans call for their coach’s head if a move is made and it doesn’t pay off? No doubt about it.

Here’s what we know for sure, though: every season Miles is placed on the hot seat for a variety of reasons. If he continues to stick a stagnant offense on the field for the remainder of 2014, or at least until the season is unsalvageable, he very well may find that seat cushion hotter than ever.