Although the 2023 season is still a couple of months away, there is already a debate on which Rutgers quarterback will start. For those who do not remember, the Scarlet Knights rotated between three quarterbacks in 2022. Those quarterbacks were Noah Vedral, Evan Simon, and Gavin Wimsatt. Vedral played his last season in 2022, but Simon and Wimsatt are still there. Here is a look into the Rutgers quarterback debate.
Rutgers Quarterback Debate
The debate will remain between Wimsatt and Simon, but another quarterback will be mentioned in the end, just in case.
Rutgers QB Gavin Wimsatt (2) – Andrew Mills/NJ Advanced Media
Gavin Wimsatt
Gavin Wimsatt played with Rutgers in 2021 and 2022. During the 2021 season, Wimsatt played in just four games. He completed nine passes out of 21 attempts for just 45 yards, according to Sports Reference. He did not pass for any touchdowns but did throw two interceptions. Even with the poor stats, in 2022, Wimsatt was expected to win the starting job.
Right away, Rutgers went through a quarterback rotation with the three players. Wimsatt also battled with injuries that caused him to play just six games. In those six games, Wimsatt complete 65 passes for 757 yards and five touchdowns. He also threw seven interceptions.
It is clear that Wimsatt did show progress in the two years, and that is a great thing for him moving forward. Seeing that progression in one year infers his best is yet to come. Potentially year three could be when he proves why he should be the sole starter. The downside of Wimsatt is his injuries. Of course, injuries are part of the game, but in college, they can really hurt his future and the team. It makes it difficult for him to improve consistently.
The other downside of his game is his touchdown to interception ratio. In two years, he has scored five touchdowns and threw nine interceptions. This is something that Wimsatt will need to improve on during the 2023 season to prove his spot.
Rutgers QB Evan Simon (3) – Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports
Evan Simon
Evan Simon did not play in 2020 but played six games in 2021 and nine in 2022. Simon mainly got his opportunity this past season due to Wimsatt’s injuries. In 2021, Simon had 16 completions out of 28 attempts for 144 yards, according to Sports Reference. He did not have any passing touchdowns, but he did have one interception.
In 2022 Rutgers fans were able to watch Simon the most. He completed 79 passes out of 137 for 777 yards. He also had four passing touchdowns and six interceptions. Similarly to Wimsatt, Simon showed improvement in the two years that he played with the team. His biggest downfall is his interceptions.
Rutgers had a decent defense in 2022 but could only do so much when they were constantly on the field. If Simon were to have limited the turnovers, they could have possibly won at least one more game. Based on how often Simon played last season, he may have the edge. But at the same time, based on how the quarterbacks were utilized in 2022, it may still be Wimsatt’s job to lose.
Rutgers Quarterback Evan Simon (3) – Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Other Rutgers Quarterbacks
The depth behind Wimsatt and Simon is Ajani Sheppard. Sheppard is a true freshman and there really is nothing to talk about with him yet. This does show that the quarterback position is the Scarlet Knights’ biggest weakness. Hopefully, Shappard does not see the field because of injuries, but perhaps he can get a shot periodically throughout the season. This can give everyone a chance to see what the young Rutgers quarterback can do.
The Rutgers quarterback position is still the biggest weakness. In the recent Scarlet-White spring game, the two played similarly. The hope is that the two remain healthy throughout the season for an accurate battle for the starting spot. Wimsatt remains the player with the high ceiling but will need to demonstrate that.
It is safe to say the Rutgers quarterback debate will remain just that, a debate. The Scarlet Knights’ first game will be against Northwestern on September 2nd.
