Here's a list of some new starting quarterbacks on the local prep landscape that Burney sees good things coming from in the 2011 season

Jake Vento (FH Harrison) – Taking over signal-calling duties from his big brother, Tommy, Jake Vento will have an outrageously talented set of offensive weapons at his disposal to ease him into the transition from last season when he was an all-state wide receiver for the state champion Hawks. Expect to see backup QB and starting LB/S Lamar Marshall getting a portion of the snaps under center this season, too, allowing Harrison to run a variety of "Wildcat" formations and Vento to split out wide to take advantage of his deep threat ability

Kyle Cooper (Novi Detroit CC) – This 6-foot-7 D1 basketball recruit is ready to step into the Shamrocks' starting quarterback role for his senior year and it will be fun watching him hook-up through the air with his fellow starting forward on the hardwood in tight end Matt Doneth

Dan Clements (OL St. Mary's) – Clements has all the tools to take the Eaglets to their third straight state championship game and fourth in five years

Nick Rao-Cheyne Lancarnia (Birmingham Brother Rice) – Last season, first-year starter Tyler Lendzion led the Warriors to a Catholic League title……could either Rao or Lancarnia wind up doing the same?  Burney thinks whoever ultimately wins the job has a good shot at it!

Mitch Baenzinger (Clarkston) – After a shoulder injury sidelined him for a majority of last season, Baenzinger is back to lead the Wolves under center this fall. This kid is a natural leader with big-play instinct dripping from his pores on both the football field and the basketball court.

Nick Wallace-William Bradley (MH Madison) – Wallace replaced injured starter Tony Lowry at QB in the postseason last fall and helped guide the Eagles to a district title. Bradley, the school's starting point guard on the basketball floor, will see time under center as well. They have two major league weapons alongside them in leading the Madison offense in wide receiver Danny Larkins, a D1 recruit, and running back Denzel Manning, who was arguably the best reserve tailback in the area last year, backing-up all-stater Valdez Showers

Chris Morgan (Farmington) – Looked great in backup duty last season behind his predecessor, three-year starter, Matt Craven. His solid arm and pocket presence will make sure the Falcons, who have gone to the postseason three years straight, stay on the winning track

Darren Byrd (West Bloomfield) – Could end up being a really big sleeper in the county's quarterback scene this year

Connor Francek (RO Shrine) – Much like Nick Wallace over at Madison, Francek, stepped behind center in place of his team's injured starting signal caller – two-time all-conference gunslinger Branch Kampe – in the playoffs last season and sparked them to a district crown. Only entering his junior year this fall, Francek should be terrorizing secondaries across the CHSL for the next two years tossing the pigskin around for the Knights. 

Twitter.com/Burneystweets