Air quality: In Pac-12, QBs mix of old, new
Some experience returns at position, but also fresh faces
The so-called Conference of Quarterbacks has had some considerable turnover at the position heading into the season.
Gone are some of the Pac-12’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 over last season when starter JT Daniels was injured in the opener. Slovis threwfor 3,502 yards with 30 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was named Pac-12 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 towards the end of the season last year,” Trojans coach ClayHelton said.
Slovis is considered one of the top QBs in the conference, if not the nation, heading into the pandemicseason. The Trojans, who finished 8–5 overall and 7–2 in the Pac-12 last year, are currently ranked No. 21 in the AP Top 25 despite the fact they haven’t played yet.
Other returning starters at QB include Arizona State’s JaydenDaniels, who threw for 2,943 yards with 17 TDs and two interceptions as a freshman.
He had five 300-yard games. Cal’s Chase Garbers threwfor 1,772 yards and 14 TDs 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, QBK.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 in three games last season when Tate struggled with injury.
Oregon’s backup last season, Tyler Shough, is the presumed starter for the Ducks, while Tristan Gebbia is expected to top the depth chart at Oregon State.
To the north inWashington, Jacob Sirmon appeared to be the frontrunner to replace Jacob Eason, andWashingtonStatehada three-way competition in camp between Jayden de Laura, Gunner Cruz and Cammon Cooper.
Utah also had three players vying for the starting nod, Jake Bentley, Drew Lisk and Cameron Rising, while Colorado’s battlewas primarily between Tyler Lytle and SamNoyer.