TCU, Auburn, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech make starting QB decisions

Four more programs — TCU, Auburn Wisconsin and Virginia Tech – announced their starting quarterback decisions Thursday.

First, for TCU, Gary Patterson confirmed what had been assumed all offseason: Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill will start.

Hill landed at TCU after a tumultuous tenure at A&M. His career got off to a dazzling start as the heir apparent to Johnny Manziel in 2014, but he was benched after a string of bad games and later suspended for off-field behavior. Overall, Hill threw for 2,649 yards, 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2014.

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Hill then transferred to TCU before the 2015 season and took a redshirt. Now a junior, Hill beat out sophomore Foster Sawyer for the starting role. Sawyer saw action in four games in 2015, including one start against Oklahoma.

The Horned Frogs open their season Sept. 3. against South Dakota State.

In the SEC, Auburn has opted to go with Sean White over senior Jeremy Johnson and junior college transfer John Franklin III. White, a sophomore, started six games for the Tigers in 2015, throwing for 1,166 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions.

“I think he’s improved in all areas,” Tigers coach Gus Malzahn said in a release. “He competed at a high level last year and battled through some injuries. He understands the offense. He’s in a good spot. We have confidence in Sean and, more importantly, his teammates have confidence in Sean.”

White replaced Johnson as starter in Auburn’s fourth game last year. In seven starts, Johnson threw for 1,054 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Franklin III began his career at Florida State and landed at Auburn after a season at East Mississippi Community College. Many thought Franklin would win the job because of his mobility, but in the end, the coaching staff went with White.

Auburn’s season opens Sept. 3 against national runner-up Clemson.

In the Big Ten, Wisconsin will turn to fifth-year senior Bart Houston under center when it opens up against LSU at historic Lambeau Field. It will be the first career start for Houston, who edged out redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook.

“I felt like Bart did everything he needed to do to earn the right to get the start,” Badgers coach Paul Chryst said.

Houston has appeared in 15 games in his career, including seven last season. He completed 27-of-47 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 2015. His best effort came against Illinois, when he threw for 232 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on 22-of-33 throwing in a 24-13 win.

Meanwhile in Blacksburg, Hokies coach Justin Fuente told reporters junior college transfer Jerod Evans has been given the nod. Evans beat out fifth-year senior Brenden Motley and true freshman Josh Jackson.

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Evans, who began his career at Air Force, arrived at VT in January after putting up big numbers at Trinity Valley Community College (Texas) in 2015. He had been committed to Fuente at Memphis and switched his commitment when Fuente took the Tech job.

“For now, (Jerod) has had a few more predicted outcomes in terms of executing at a little bit higher level,” Fuente said. “He’s a good athlete and that plays into it as well. I’d just say, for now, that he’s had a few more of those predicted outcomes.”

Fuente noted that one of the other quarterbacks could see action in the opener against Liberty on Sept. 3. The Hokies face off with Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway in Week 2. Motley started six games in 2015 after Michael Brewer was injured. Motley threw for 1,155 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

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Sam Cooper is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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