The Rock has seen its share of great quarterbacks come through its stadium and play on its field.
Richie Williams from 2002-2005, Armanti Edwards from 2006-2009 and Jamal Londry-Jackson from 2010-present gave fans both an exciting offense to watch and a winning team to cheer for.
As it is in college sports, however, star players graduate and leave fans wondering who will replace them.
Sophomore Kameron Bryant is becoming Appalachian State University’s next quarterback star one game at a time and may end up being one of the best.
His current year’s statistics are carrying a lot of weight and part of that is unfair, because, after all, so much can change for worse or better from week to week and year to year, but there’s no denying that his numbers are remarkable.
Through eight games played (some of which were only half games due to the half and half switching with Jamal Londry-Jackson), Bryant is 146-199 for 1,744 yards and 10 touchdowns.
His 73.4 completion percentage is on track to be the best in Mountaineer history and his efficiency numbers is on pace to be the best in at least the last seven years, a full 2.26 higher than Edwards’ 159.34 rating in 2008.
Edwards that year had 2,902 yards and was the fourth highest passing yards in a season by any player. The following year, he outdid himself and set the bar at 3,291 yards.
Now, Bryant is not near those kinds of numbers, but his numbers are nonetheless impressive when the actual minutes on the field are factored in.
He’s only been the main quarterback since the Samford game Oct. 12 and his numbers have been steadily increasing to be a SoCon leader.
App State is ranked second in pass offense behind Samford at 284.9 yards per game and third in pass efficiency at 149.7.
Bryant individually, however, is ranked third in passing yards per game average at 218 and number one in efficiency, a full 10.5 points higher than Samford’s Andy Summerlin at the second spot.
He’s also recorded more than 300 yards in his last two games through the air.
In only eight games played, those are really impressive numbers and, should they continue, will allow him to start getting into the record books alongside his predecessors.
Of course, there are a lot of unknowns, but he’s only a sophomore and is making leaps and bounds toward becoming the kind of quarterback App State needs if they want to be successful in the Sun Belt conference.
He will be that quarterback if he continues to put in the same time, effort and energy that got him to a victory over Georgia Southern with 381 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Fans should prepare for the learning curve that is forthcoming. Seniors are on the way out; a new conference is on the way in. The wins may not be that plentiful.
But watching this young quarterback bloom into the kind of quarterback that can be successful at the FBS level is an exciting opportunity and fans should keep their eyes peeled.
Column: ANDREW CLAUSEN, Sports editor