Freshman QBs battling for backup role at UA

It’s a ritual of training camp: Reporters ask veteran players which newcomers have stood out the most.

The reflexive response is to cite a player from the same position. Safeties pick safeties. Linebackers nominate linebackers. They’re around one another the most. It makes sense.

Arizona Wildcats receiver Shun Brown ran a different route when asked that question late Saturday night.

“I like the quarterbacks,” the senior said. “The quarterbacks are looking good.”

Brown specifically referenced freshman quarterbacks Jamarye Joiner and Kevin Doyle.

“I feel like they’re more developed coming in,” Brown said. “They’re hungry. They ask me questions. They always want to throw, do extra stuff. They want to win. That right there speaks for itself.”

Whether Joiner or Doyle can climb the depth chart to become the nextbest option behind junior starter Khalil Tate remains to be seen. They are competing with second-year players K’Hari Lane and Rhett Rodriguez. The four have one career passing attempt among them.

UA offensive coordinator and QB coach Noel Mazzone told his young quarterbacks Saturday that the competition won’t really being until “some point in the next week, week and a half.”

As prepared as they might be upon arrival, Joiner and Doyle have a lot of catching up to do and a short time to do it.

“It’s hard to say anything about the young guys yet, because they’re still trying to figure out where the locker room is,” Mazzone said.