2016 Frontier Football Preview: Quarterbacks

Quarterback is considered the most important position in football — no matter the level. Whether it’s the New England Patriots or the Frontier Conference, teams will succeed when they’re led by a quality signal caller.

And, as the 2016 Frontier season approaches, there are certainly some quality quarterbacks around the conference. However, there are also some up-and-comers and some fresh faces that will have to adapt to the always defensive and difficult Frontier.

One of those up-and-comers plays at Montana State University-Northern. Junior Jess Krahn started every game for the Lights in what was a difficult 2015 season. He also started the last three games of his freshman year, and while Krahn (6-3, 220) has really had a baptism by fire, second-year head coach Aaron Christenson is starting to see all of the ups and downs his young quarterback has gone through pay off.

“He’s gotten much better from the start of last season,” Christenson said of Krahn during spring ball back in April. “A lot of that is experience. You have to be out there in order to get that experience. But, he’s also worked very hard. He’s become a leader and he just gets better and better.”

And Northern is banking on Krahn now being a veteran QB to help bolster its powerful running attack with an equally powerful passing game. Krahn threw for 1,638 yards and eight scores a year ago, but Northern relied heavily on the run. Now, with a firmer grasp of Christenson’s offense, exciting weapons to throw to, and the balance of having an All-American senior running back in Zach McKinley behind him, Krahn will go into his junior year as a guy who could have a breakout season.

There are also several returning quarterbacks who have already had breakout seasons, and together, the group gives the Frontier a bevy of premier quarterbacks.

Rocky Mountain College’s Chase White (6-3, 213), a former Shelby High star, had his breakout campaign last season, when he threw for 2,827 yards and 18 scores. White is firmly entrenched as the starter for new head coach Jason Petrino, and he’s one of the best returning passers in the conference. But, he will have to deal with life after Andre McCullouch, the RMC wide receiver who earned NAIA All-American honors in each of the last three seasons. Still, with White at the helm, RMC’s passing attack won’t slow down, that’s for sure.

Another senior standout returning is Eastern Oregon’s Zach Bartlow (6-0, 195). He won the fulltime job at EOU last fall and didn’t let it go, as he was second in the Frontier in total offense with 2,498 yards through the air and another 554 on the ground. Bartlow is a dangerous runner but is also an accurate passer as he completed 60 percent of his throws and threw for a league-high 23 touchdowns as a junior. And with so much experience under his belt, Bartlow is ready to lead the Mounties back into the Frontier title chase.

Of course, no one had a bigger breakout junior year than Southern Oregon’s Tanner Trosin (6-0, 180). SOU head coach Craig Howard looked at three different QBs to try and replace departed legend Austin Dodge, the NAIA’s all-time leading passer, who graduated after leading the Raiders to the 2014 national championship. And in the end, Trosin emerged as the guy, and all he did was lead the Frontier in total offense, and the Raiders back to the national championship game. In 14 games last season, and even having to split time behind center for portions of the season, Trosin threw for 2,841 yards and rushed for another 862. And, with his dual-threat ability, it makes the Raiders’ wide-open offense that much more dangerous.

Speaking of championships, there’s no way to mention the top quarterbacks in the league without mentioning Montana Tech’s Quinn McQueary. The now-junior, and former Montana State Bobcat, is as talented as they come, but his first year at Tech was filled with injury problems, as he was limited to just six games. However, there’s no denying that a healthy McQueary (6-3, 195) makes Tech an instant contender in the Frontier, and it also makes him one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, and perhaps the NAIA.

While the list above are certainly the best returning quarterbacks in the Frontier, there are others who will look to make a name for themselves this season.

Carroll College, which is coming off a rare losing season in 2015, will look to senior J.T. Linder (6-2, 210) for an instant boost. Linder sat behind starter Mac Roche the last two seasons, but he did have an excellent spring, and as a veteran, he will be called upon to get Carroll’s offense rolling this season.

New/old UM-Western head coach Ryan Nourse inherits a double-headed QB situation in Dillon. As true freshmen, J.D. Ferris and Bradley Smith shared the starting role a season ago. Ferris (6-1, 170) threw for 1,119 yards, seven scores and also rushed for over 400 yards, while Smith threw for 964 yards and nine TDs. Nourse hasn’t indicated whether he will continue to rotate quarterbacks, or whether one will emerge as the starter outright, never-the-less, having two young and talented QBs is a good problem to have, especially with all the offensive firepower around them.

Finally, College of Idaho head coach Mike Moroski is replacing the only QB he’s ever had. In C of I’s first two years of having football back, TeeJay Gordon was the man. Gordon was a running QB who amassed big total offense numbers the least two seasons. Now Moroski will turn the reigns over to University of Utah transfer J.J. Hyde (6-3, 230), who played running back for the Yotes last season before suffering a season-ending injury in the fourth game. Hyde, having played in the backfield, should be able to execute C of I’s run-heavy spread offense, and with his speed and athletically ability, he should be able to step right in for the departed star, Gordon.

So there you have it. There’s a look at the top returning quarterbacks, and the quarterback landscape in general as the new Frontier season approaches. There’s plenty of talent on that list, and it should make for yet another exciting year of offense, in an already offense-heavy league.

Editor's Note: This is the first in a series of stories previewing the top players in the Frontier Conference at each position. On Monday, the HDN will take a look at the top wide receivers and tight ends in the league.