Backup quarterback spot worthy of envy at WSU
PULLMAN – A year ago the position of backup quarterback was the consolation prize, doled out to the loser in fall camp.
Now, it’s a position of envy.
Alex Brink is the starting quarterback for Washington State, and so it’s not the top spot but the No. 2 position on the depth chart that has become the prize this spring.
Cougars coaches are open to the possibility of any of their other three signal-callers taking the job – sophomore Gary Rogers, freshman Arkelon Hall or freshman Cole Morgan.
But in the hearts and minds of Cougar fans, the story likely is the duel between Rogers and Hall, both well-regarded recruits who may end up deciding between them who succeeds Brink as the starting quarterback one day.
“I think that’s a big key,” head coach Bill Doba said of finding an effective backup this spring. “One of those three kids has got to surface. Right now, obviously, I’d say Rogers has got the jump on the other two kids.”
That’s because Rogers, who was the No. 3 quarterback for all of last season and the No. 2 man when Josh Swogger was injured down the stretch in 2004, has a significant experience edge on both Hall and Morgan.
Rogers threw a total of five passes in four games of relief duty last season, but those appearances have helped to settle the talented 19-year-old.
“I think this spring’s going to pretty important for me,” said Rogers, who played with the first-team offense for some snaps in Saturday’s controlled scrimmage. “I feel like I do (have an advantage). I’ve been here longer, I know the stuff. They’re younger. Last year they spent time doing scout team stuff and I spent time watching everything.”
Rogers is in the mold of some of WSU’s more famous quarterbacks, standing tall in the pocket at 6-foot-5 – even more with an ever-expanding mop of curly hair. Hall, on the other hand, came to WSU from Fresno, Calif., with the hope of blending the arm strength shown by the bigger quarterbacks and the fancy footwork exhibited by the smaller ones.
At 6-2, Hall has struggled at times in his development as a college quarterback. He lost 25 pounds over the winter from a bulky frame to gain some extra mobility, and readily admits that outside factors – like Saturday’s cold, damp weather – are still affecting his play.
“The only guy who’s played is Gary, so I think the two younger guys, they have to set their sights on working toward No. 3 before you can really do anything else,” quarterbacks coach Timm Rosenbach said. “That’s what their focus has to be right now.”
In 16 starts, Brink has never exited a game because of injury. But if that happens this fall, one of the inexperienced signal-callers will have to step out onto the field, and the hopes of a Cougars season will rest in his hands.
“They’ll develop us when we’re ready,” Hall said. “But I really want to get there (No. 2).”
Said Rogers: “I feel like I’m playing for something.”