Rick Scuteri – USA TODAY Sports
Mike MacIntyre inherited a Colorado Buffaloes team filled with question marks after a woeful 1-11 2012 season. There was no position with more questions surrounding it heading into spring practice than the quarterback position. At the start of spring, it was a crowded depth chart, but that heated race has sorted itself out as the Buffs head into the summer and Connor Wood becomes the last man standing.
When spring practice started, there were three quarterbacks vying for the No. 1 position next fall. Wood, along with incumbent Jordan Webb and Nick Hirschman, was stuck in a back and forth competition to take over MacIntyre’s pistol offense in 2013. Webb was the first to fall out of the race when he suffered a non-contact ACL injury that will end his 2013 season before it begins and will likely end his collegiate career.
Wood and Hirschman continued the back and forth through Colorado’s spring game. Both quarterbacks played well, but neither set themselves apart and MacIntyre wasn’t ready to name his starter. He had the decision made for him, however, when Hirschman announced he would be leaving Colorado to pursue opportunities playing elsewhere.
That leaves Wood as the winner by default for Colorado in 2013. The junior signal caller started just one game in 2012, but appeared in nine games, completing just 21-of-41 passes for 265 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions. He didn’t show a lot of ability running the football, however, finishing the year with negative-13 rushing yards.
MacIntyre thought he had a tough choice ahead of him next fall with his quarterback decision, but circumstances have made the decision for him. Is Wood the guy that Colorado can win with in 2013?
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