UCLA will start Garbers at QB, but Moore and Schlee will also see playing time

LOS ANGELES – UCLA will go with three quarterbacks during Saturday’s opener against Coastal Carolina.

Coach Chip Kelly said before Monday’s practice that Ethan Garbers will get the start but that Collin Schlee and Dante Moore will see playing time during the game.

Other than Garbers taking the first snap, Kelly said they will figure out how to divide the snaps later in the week. It’s also the first time in Kelly’s 29 years of coaching in college that he has gone into an opener without a clear starter.

“It is a unique situation, but they deserve to play. It’s the only fair way to do it,” Kelly said. “They all competed at a high level. We said it was going to be authentic and organic and this is what it is right now.”

Garbers, a redshirt junior, has seen action in 11 games over the past two years. His lone start came in a 2021 loss. The Newport Beach, California, native started at Washington before transferring in 2020.

Schlee made 11 starts for Kent State last season before transferring to the West Coast. He passed for 2,109 yards, 13 touchdowns and five interceptions last season.

Moore is the first five-star recruit Kelly has landed since coming to Westwood. He was an early enrollee and participated in spring drills.

Kelly said he has been pleased with Moore’s accuracy and decision-making in practice but wants to see it during a game.

Weigman named A&M QB

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Conner Weigman has been named Texas A&M’s starter for the opener against New Mexico on Saturday night.

Coach Jimbo Fisher made the announcement Monday after Weigman and Max Johnson had competed in camp. “All camp has been evaluated, and at the end of camp, we have to make a choice,” he said. “That was it.”

Johnson threw for almost 4,000 yards in two seasons at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M ahead of last season. He had 517 yards passing with three touchdowns in four games for the Aggies before a season-ending hand injury.

Weigman threw for 896 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception in five games as a freshman after Johnson went down.

Weigman will lead the Aggies as they try to bounce back from a season in which they went 5-7 for their worst finish since going 4-8 in 2008.