Banks Leads Plant Panther Quarterback Race

When we took a look at Plant high's quarterback position in the spring, it was very much a four-horse race. As we edge closer and closer to the fall season, the picture is becoming more clear.

First, junior Kyle Ploucher has transferred to Tampa Catholic. That narrows it down to three. This weekend sophomore Colby Brown took the share of the reps at the Big County Preps Tournament. Meanwhile, senior Aaron Banks was attending the Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana.

"We pretty much established that Aaron was going to be the guy after spring," said head coach Robert Weiner. "We are always up front and honest with these guys about where they're at."

Perhaps Ploucher saw an experienced senior in Kyle Groh and a young, developing Brown and decided to take his chances elsewhere. It was not a bitter parting by any means, according to Weiner.

"It was an amicable split, it's not even a bad thing for him, he might get a chance to play right away," said Weiner.

"I had a fun time at Plant," said Ploucher. "That team was really like a family, there were no in-groups, it was a complete team."

Ploucher does indeed have a realistic chance to start as a junior for the Crusaders.

Weiner might have tipped his hand earlier than he did last year during the 2011 quarterback battle. With Ploucher dropping out of the picture, the remaining three fell naturally into their roles. But Weiner still likes to foster the competition.

"The number one thing is that the process of the competition is healthy for the team," Weiner said. "The quarterback position is such an important one for us, if the quarterbacks can show that they can compete for the job, the rest of the team will think the same way about their positions - that, if they don't play up to their potential, there's somebody that's ready to take their place."

Weiner is well-known for his specialization with training quarterbacks. His most recent protoges are Aaron Murray at Georgia, Phillip Ely at Alabama, and James Few at Cornell. Few only had one year as a starter, as will Banks. But Banks got adequate playing time in 2011. He managed 27 passing attempts and 37 rushing attempts. And, anyone who had the pleasure of watching Plant's 2011 regional final against East Lake remembers Banks' touchdown throw on the trick play to Austin Roberts that changed the momentum of the game.

"The reps that Aaron got in 2011 were not without design," said Weiner.

So it seems the race has sorted itself out. Banks as the starter, Groh as the veteran reserve and Brown as the developing reserve. 

You can check out all three of them in action as they go after Part 2 of the USF Sling and Shoot 7-on-7 tournament this weekend.