Arkansas State University quarterbacks thriving on preseason competition

Former Pulaski Academy quarterback Layne Hatcher and James Blackman are competing for the same starting job at Arkansas State, both quarterbacks say they’re also trying to help each other get better.

Head coach Butch Jones said that approach reflects the character of ASU’s quarterbacks.

“That entire room has great character and they understand that all of the quarterbacks in the room, just like every other position group, they’re making each other better,” Jones said after Wednesday’s practice. “You get better through competition. You get better in life through competing."

In Hatcher and Blackman, the Red Wolves have two quarterbacks who have combined to pass for more than 10,000 career yards in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Hatcher, a sophomore from Little Rock, has thrown for 5,004 yards and 46 touchdowns over two seasons at ASU, 2,068 a year ago. Blackman, a junior transfer from Florida State, passed for 5,445 yards and 43 touchdowns while starting 25 games over four seasons with the Seminoles.

After alternating series last season with Logan Bonner, who’s now at Utah State, Hatcher is accustomed to competition. He said it’s been good for both quarterbacks, and beneficial for the team as well.

“Hatcher's my guy. Everyone in that QB room, I love them to death. I love them truly, I’d do anything for them,” Blackman said. “I’d run through a brick wall for them. These are my brothers, we’re out here every day working through the hot sun and I’m just happy to be around them. I like the way he helps me and we’re helping each other. We just grow every day.”

While Hatcher was splitting time last fall at ASU, Blackman was in a reserve role at Florida State before opting to transfer. Most of his playing time with the Seminoles came in 2017, when he started as a true freshman after an injury to Deondre Francois in the season opener, and 2019.

ASU became an option after the Red Wolves hired Jones last December.

While the two quarterbacks are different physically – Hatcher is listed at 5-11 and 211 pounds, Blackman at 6-5 and 190 – Jones said they have similarities.

“You have to make sure you have an offensive system that plays to the skill set of who the quarterback is, and we have that. We have an entire quarterback run package,” Jones said. “We have the short throws, the intermediate throws, the deep throws, the play passes, the RPOs, the sprint-outs, the screens."

“I just want to keep getting sharper and sharper, getting the ball out as fast as possible,” Hatcher said when asked what he wants to improve before Saturday’s scrimmage. “I think there’s still seconds there that I can get rid of. I’m trying to get rid of that and then always protect the ball, always find completions.”

Blackman said ASU’s system is similar to what he played in previously.

Blackman is one of four new quarterbacks joining Hatcher and Wyatt Begeal, a true freshman who enrolled in January. Sophomore Allan Walters transferred from Mississippi State, while Jack Hevesy and Carson Taumoepeau are freshmen.

“We compete and don’t compare. That’s all we do every day, compete and don’t compare. We just have to compete against the defense,” Blackman said when asked about competing with Hatcher for playing time.

“We’re elevating each other’s games and you find us pushing the limits and really motivating the team and motivating each other to keep pushing forward,” Hatcher said.