With the 2022 season behind us, and the thought of the confirmed 2023 season exciting us. I thought it would be fun to look through the available quarterbacks out there that I think would fit perfectly into the Sumlin offense that has been a powerhouse in the past. We saw a tough first season as Thorson took the helm and underperformed consistently, but next season is a new year for the gamblers! Here are my top 5 picks to take over the Gambler backfield assuming that we did not have Thorson of Bahar in season 2. Lets start with 5th place.
5. Tommy Armstrong JR 6’ 1” Age: 28
Playing his collegiate years at Nebraska in the Big 10, Armstrong proved he could play with the big dogs. He is the all-time leader for Nebraska in passing yards, completions, passing TDs, and total offense. He proved himself as a quarterback yet transitioned to wide receiver and even safety to join the NFL. He has bounced around the IFL a bit before moving to coaching. From recent Twitter posts he seems itching to get back into playing at his true position. Armstrong is from outside of San Antonio so playing on the Texas team in the USFL feels like a good fit. He has a huge arm and great mobility, which seems to be what Coach Sumlin loves in his passing game. On paper he looks like a Gambler.
There are a few things that give me hesitation on Armstrong that are keeping him at the number 5 position on my list. For one, the Gamblers just had a record setting quarterback from the Big 10 in Clayton Thorson and we all saw how that went. More importantly than the bad taste left in Gambler's fans mouth is the fact that Armstrong hasn't actually played a professional football game since the IFL in October of 2019. Three years away from football can be a back breaker, but hopefully there will be some camps he can attend before the second USFL season where he can prove there's no rust on that arm.
4. Chris Oladokun 6’ 2” Age: 24
Oladokun has always been best as a big fish in a smallish pond. Coming from Florida, he tried a season or two at USF and Samford, eventually landing at South Dakota State. Thriving there, the senior moved to a pass first quarterback with great running ability instead of a run first dual threat. He threw for 3,164 yards and 25 touchdowns in his senior year. When looking at the quarterbacks that Kevin Sumlin has been most successful with, Case Keenum and Johnny Manzel, he fits the mold perfect. Add his ability with the fact that he just finished his collegiate career and is raw talent waiting to be sculpted, he’s a winner.
When I say raw talent, I mean that he has a cannon attached to his right shoulder, he runs like SDSU’s mascot the jackrabbit, and he has good size. Where he is lacking is some decision making and mechanics as he seems to hastily throw off of his back foot when pressured.
Right now, Oladokun is the 4th string QB for the Steelers, and the second QB they drafted this year behind Kenny Pickett. How this works in the USFL’s favor is that he is likely to be at most a practice squad player with a chip on his shoulder this NFL season. If this is the case, then the USFL draft and a season of impressive professional game tape could be the route to a spot on a 52 man roster.
3. Gerry Bohannon 6’ 3” Age: 22
Bohannon is absolutely my homer pick and I say that with zero shame as a Baylor alum. He is also the only quarterback on my list that is currently a college player. Bohannon was an absolute stud in high school throwing for 2,675 yards and 34 touchdowns. When he finally got to start in college for Baylor (Sic’em), he struggled sometimes with decision making and ball placement in the 4th quarter. He threw for 2,200 yards and 18 touchdowns, but also 7 interceptions. While a prolific passer, he first made his presence known in college with his legs. Last year in Baylor’s best football season to date, he racked up 343 yards and 9 touchdowns on the ground. The man is the definition of dual threat, and spent most of his football career in Texas, it just makes sense.
Bohannon has one more year in college which may lead you to ask, “why wouldn’t he just go to the NFL draft Ace?” Well, he transferred to USF for his last year of eligibility, and while I truly believe that he will be great there, the school has never had a quarterback be drafted to the NFL. Perhaps Gerry will be their first quarterback drafted to the USFL, and in the words of Bowling for Soup… COME BACK TO TEXAS!
2. David Pindell 6’ 1” Age: 26
Pindell was a quarterback that I had high on my radar going into last year’s USFL draft. He was an absolute beast at Nevada in college putting together 2,899 yards and 23 touchdowns passing with an impressive 1,428 yards and 13 touchdowns rushing. The man can flat out fly when he decides to run, which he showed of constantly in the Fan Controlled Football league as a Glacier Boy and the IFL with the Empire. Pindell is a workaholic in the offseason as you can see from his social media when he posts to find receivers in his area to work with. While most FCF quarterbacks have monster days running the ball, Pindell showed fantastic touch and mechanics. In a league that thrives on mayhem, he always looked calm and composed in what little pocket there was.
Pindell is currently in Japan playing for the XL League. I wish I could have seen him play in the Japanese league, but I don’t know how as all their tweets are in Japanese! I think that Pindell is a diamond in the rough that Sumlin and staff need to take a look at. Let’s bring the man back to the United States and get him in a helmet with a big red G on it.
1. Brett Hundley 6’ 3” Age: 29
Brett Hundley was the brightest star on the UCLA football team when he was in college. Since then, he has bounced around the NFL like a pinball just trying to stick somewhere. Hundley filled in for Aaron Rogers when he had his collarbone break. He did okay-ish with 1,836 yards and 9 touchdowns, but had 12 interceptions that brought his stock down. He hasn’t really had a chance to show what he can do at the professional level since 2017, and was just this week cut from the Ravens after the first round of preseason drops. The man has the physical talent, running a 4.63s 40-yard dash at his pro day. I think he just may need some good game tape and a chance to show what he can do when given a chance to get into a rhythm.
Join me in the official USFL discord and let me know what you think of this list. Did the guy you want to see get on it? Maybe you have a better list than me, come let me know and lets talk about it!
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