USC’s Slovis tops list of Pac12 QBs
The socalled Conference of Quarterbacks has had some considerable turnover at the position heading into the season.
Gone are some of the Pac12’ s big names: Oregon’s Justin Herbert, Washington State’s Anthony Gordon, Arizona’s Khalil Tate and Utah’s Tyler Huntley. Just five quarterbacks who started regularly for conference teams last season are back.
Arguably the top returnee is USC’s Kedon Slovis, who took the job last season when starter JT Daniels was injured in the opener. Slovis threw for 3,502 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was named Pac12 Freshman of the Year.
“I felt as Kedon progressed through that second half of the season and we progressed as a team, we started playing our best ball toward the end of the season,” USC head coach Clay Helton said. “Now, to be able to watch Kedon work with those skill players and see the timing the ball is coming out ( with), the accuracy the ball is coming out with, the chemistry of those skill players with him ... it makes you excited as a coach.”
Slovis is considered one of the top QBs in the conference, if not the nation, heading into the pandemic abbreviated season. The Trojans, who finished 85 overall and 72 in the Pac12 last year, are ranked No. 20 in the AP Top 25 despite not playing yet.
Other returning starters at QB include Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels, who threw for 2,943 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions as a freshman. He had five 300yard games. Cal’s Chase Garbers threw for 1,772 yards and 14 touchdowns with three interceptions in nine games last year. And UCLA junior Dorian Thompson Robinson threw for 2,701 yards and 21 TDs with 12 interceptions.
At Stanford, quarterback K. J. Costello went to Mississippi State under Mike Leach, who left Washington State in the offseason. But the Cardinal still have junior Davis Mills, who started in six games last season when Costello was injured and set a school record with 504 passing yards against Washington State.
At Arizona, Grant Gunnell will take the reins at QB after starting three games last season when Tate dealt with with injury.
Oregon’s backup last season, Tyler Shough, is the presumed starter for the Ducks. Tristan Gebbia is expected to top the depth chart at Oregon State. The Beavers host Washington State on Saturday night. Freshman Jayden de Laura will start for the Cougars.