HUSKERS WILL START TRUE FRESHMAN QB
NEB.» Two days LINCOLN, after clarity came to Nebraska’s quarterback situation, things got complicated again.
True freshman Adrian Martinez will be the starter when the Cornhuskers begin the Scott Frost era against Akron on Saturday night. However, Tristan Gebbia, the man he beat out, didn’t practice Monday morning and the university registrar said in the afternoon he no longer was enrolled.
Frost said at his noonhour news conference that Gebbia’s status with the team was to be determined. With Gebbia gone, sophomore walk-on Andrew Bunch would be the top backup.
“Our team is always going to preach team before me, take care of the brother to my right and left,” Frost said. “I want players on the team who are actually about that. Whatever kids are on the roster come the first game, those are the brothers I want to roll with.”
Martinez and Gebbia engaged in a close competition through the spring and in the preseason. Gebbia was recruited by former coach Mike Riley and ranked among the top pro-style quarterbacks coming out of high school in 2017. He redshirted his first year in the program.
Martinez said quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco told him before Saturday’s practice he would be the starter.
Martinez will be the first true freshman quarterback to start an opener in program history.
Hogs going with Kelley at QB.
FAYETTEVILLE,
Arkansas sophomore Cole Kelley will start at quarterback when the Razorbacks open their season against Eastern Illinois on Saturday.
First-year Arkansas coach Chad Morris announced the decision to start Kelley on Monday, adding that junior Ty Storey will also play.
Kelley started four games last season as a freshman in place of an injured Austin Allen, completing 57.6 percent of his passes and throwing eight touchdowns and four interceptions. However, the 6-foot-7, 258pound Kelley was suspended for the final game of last season after being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated.
Storey has seen only limited action in his two years with the Razorbacks.
Trojans have their man.
ANGELES» Freshman LOS
J.T. Daniels has won the competition to start at quarterback for No. 15 Southern California.
Coach Clay Helton announced his decision in a news release Sunday night, ending the 3 1/2week audition for three strong contenders to be the successor to Sam Darnold.
When he takes the Coliseum field against UNLV on Saturday, the 18-yearold Daniels will be the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC since Matt Barkley in 2009. Only three true freshmen have ever started a game at quarterback for the Trojans: Barkley, Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer (1998) and Rob Johnson (1991).
Bruins hand out suspensions.
UCLA has suspended six players for unspecified rules violations for its season opener against Cincinnati.
Chip Kelly is making his debut as UCLA’s coach on Saturday. He said Monday if “you do something wrong, there’s a punishment that’s involved in it.”
Offensive lineman Boss Tagaloa and tight end Devin Asiasi are suspended three games each, and running back Soso Jamabo is suspended for two games. Defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa, defensive back Mo Osling and defensive lineman Moses Robinson-Carr will not play in the opener.
Jamabo rushed for 446 yards and a team-high six touchdowns last season.