When Seth Russell went down with a season-ending ankle injury last year, true freshman Zach Smith stepped in for a football program with much more to worry about than who was starting behind center. He performed admirably for the reeling Bears considering his experience level and even captained the team to a bowl win.
But with Matt Rhule planning for his first year at Baylor — and with his knowledge of his own O-line issues — the first-year head coach went with the more-experienced, more-mobile option, Arizona transfer Anu Solomon. Two weeks and two losses to Liberty and UTSA (as well as an injury to Solomon) later, Smith was back in.