Charles Kelly reveals the hardest part of building game plans against Pac-12 quarterbacks

It’s shaping up to be the year of the quarterback in the Pac-12. Not only does the conference have the reigning Heisman Trophy winner coming back, but two potential Heisman contenders and three of the top 10 quarterbacks to enter the transfer portal are in the league, as well.

That’s a lot of talent within the conference, and Colorado defensive coordinator Charles Kelly said they’re all different. As a result, it’s hard to game-plan from week to week.

Kelly spoke highly of the 12 Pac-12 quarterbacks, including his own. Shedeur Sanders is set to take over as the Buffaloes’ QB1 under his father, Deion Sanders, and he’s impressing early on in Boulder. But when it comes to the other quarterbacks, Kelly sees nothing but talent.

“First of all, the quarterbacks in this league are just absolutely incredible,” Kelly said at Pac-12 Media Day. “It’s a very impressive group. And might I say, I’m pretty proud of our quarterback, also. I think Shedeur has done some incredible things in his career and I’m anxious to watch what he can do. I mean, some of the numbers that he’s put up. But to your question, every quarterback in this conference is different.

“And if you watch them play, they have a unique skillset that is a little bit different from week to week. So that puts a challenge on us calling the defense or going into a game with a game plan. We have to be a little bit strategic on how we control each of these guys a little bit different.”

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Although it’s not necessarily easy to run similar plays week-in and week-out, Kelly noted the goal is the same: get the quarterback out of the pocket. The problem with that is many of the Pac-12 QBs are mobile and can make plays while on the run. Caleb Williams proved he could still be effective with his arm while on the run as he won the Heisman in 2022 and Bo Nix totaled 45 touchdowns of his own — 29 passing and 14 rushing. Michael Penix Jr. finished ninth in the Heisman voting as he showed off his athleticism. Let’s not forget two-time reigning Pac-12 champion Cameron Rising is back, as well.

That doesn’t account for some of the newcomers. Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei was the No. 4 quarterback transfer and Cal quarterback Sam Jackson came in as the No. 6 quarterback to hit the portal, according to the On3 Transfer Portal Rankings. Sanders rounded out the top 10 as the No. 10-ranked quarterback.

With such talented players under center, Kelly knows it won’t be easy for Colorado in the grind of the Pac-12.

“The one thing in today’s football that you have to do, you have to be able to affect the quarterback,” Kelly said. “You don’t necessarily have to sack him all the time, but you’ve got to affect the quarterback. You’ve got to be able to get him off his spots. The thing that I see in this conference that a lot of these guys do well, even when you get them off of their spot, they can move. They can buy time in the pocket and they use their eyes downfield and they’re very accurate downfield.

“So watching these guys, that’s what I see. It’s a big challenge for us every week.”