2010: Dayne Crist: injured and Rees starts last 4 games
2011: Dayne Crist: Benched in season opener and Rees starts rest of season
2012: Golson: Benched multiple times for Rees
2013: Rees: Started every game as Golson was ineligible to play due to academic violations
2014: Golson: Benched for Zaire in USC game and then benched again for Zaire in bowl game vs LSU. Transfers after season.
2015: Zaire: Season ending injury in second game. Kizer starts rest of the year.
2016: Kizer and Zaire: Kelly couldn’t decide between the two and Zaire phased out after being noticeably ineffective. Kizer starts rest of season but struggles considerably and goes pro after season.
2017: Wimbush: Starts the year and ends the year as starting qb but gets hurt before UNC game so Book gets a start.
2018: Wimbush: Gets benched 3 games into the season for Book and we don’t look back. Transfers at end of season.
2019: Book : Starts the season and ends the season
2020: Book : Starts the season and ends the season
2021: Jack Coan is named the starting qb.
In 11 seasons the starting qb has been benched in 5 seasons (if you counted Zaire as the co starter in 2016). The starting QB has only completed a full season without injury or benching 3 times. Only two starting Qbs under Kelly have not lost their job at some point in their career: Kizer (and that’s only if you don’t count being named a co starter as losing your job) and Book.
2011: Dayne Crist: Benched in season opener and Rees starts rest of season
2012: Golson: Benched multiple times for Rees
2013: Rees: Started every game as Golson was ineligible to play due to academic violations
2014: Golson: Benched for Zaire in USC game and then benched again for Zaire in bowl game vs LSU. Transfers after season.
2015: Zaire: Season ending injury in second game. Kizer starts rest of the year.
2016: Kizer and Zaire: Kelly couldn’t decide between the two and Zaire phased out after being noticeably ineffective. Kizer starts rest of season but struggles considerably and goes pro after season.
2017: Wimbush: Starts the year and ends the year as starting qb but gets hurt before UNC game so Book gets a start.
2018: Wimbush: Gets benched 3 games into the season for Book and we don’t look back. Transfers at end of season.
2019: Book : Starts the season and ends the season
2020: Book : Starts the season and ends the season
2021: Jack Coan is named the starting qb.
In 11 seasons the starting qb has been benched in 5 seasons (if you counted Zaire as the co starter in 2016). The starting QB has only completed a full season without injury or benching 3 times. Only two starting Qbs under Kelly have not lost their job at some point in their career: Kizer (and that’s only if you don’t count being named a co starter as losing your job) and Book.
