Speculation prior to Saturday’s 2022 Spring Preview  was that Indiana transfer Michael Penix, Jr was a clear favorite–until Sam Huard’s old friend Junior Alexander showed up.

The touch shown by Huard on the one-handed catch to Junior Alexander was impressive.  Huard used a trajectory to get the ball over the defender yet soft enough to drop the ball into a spot where only his trusted old friend Junior Alexander would be able to haul it in–with one hand.

But throughout the spring each quarterback showed more touch and less muscle on throws.  Finessing the ball-placement has helped the receivers progress as DeBoer redevelops the quarterbacks and reshapes the offense.

“I thought Sam had one of his best days today,” the first-year Washington coach said.  “As the game went on he didn’t shy away from making throws.”

And that is, perhaps, what DeBoer is looking for.  Not someone who is gun-shy or trigger-happy but a resilient gun-slinger like his former QB at Fresno State Jake Haener was against UCLA last season.  Someone who makes adjustments and is mentally strong to shake off mistakes and make better throws the next time around to close out games.

And closing out this scrimmage was Penix to receiver Rome Odunze.  The ball-placement was spot-on giving the Las Vegas product the opportunity to work some magic on the game’s final play.  Side-stepping, spinning, out-running, tightrope walking his way for the walkoff score.

“Even the ones not completed I thought (Huard) did a good job going through his progressions and didn’t overanalyze,” DeBoer said.

But, still, nobody cemented their role as the starter heading into the 3-shutdown.

“I thought all of them had their times,” DeBoer said.

In sizing up the QBs DeBoer noted that none of the QBs was able to truly take the reins.

“Each of them bring something different,” DeBoer said after the Spring Preview.  “They’ve all done a really good job of taking care of the football.”

It was there that he paused briefly.

“The protection of the football has been extremely high,” he said.  “Mike (Penix) and Dylan (Morris) have been very protective of the football–especially when it comes to interceptions.”

He stopped short of singling out Huard as someone who has had trouble with ball security in the passing game.

“We all see that all of them have areas where they can get better,” DeBoer noted.

On Morris:

“He’s got the arm talent, there’s no question,” DeBoer said.  “He’s done a pretty good job of protecting the football all spring long”

On Penix:

“Today he did have a couple of picks,” Deboer recalled.  “I’m not sure what happened on the one.  I think (a receiver) fell down.”

Earlier in the spring DeBoer said that one of the things that he liked about Penix was that he could take step back away from the pass rush and extend the play.

On Huard:

“You see the old connection with him and Junior Alexander, and that was fun to see,” DeBoer said with a big grin.

In reality, in over a month of watching the three quarterbacks compete, the position remains unsettled, perhaps muddled by the Huard-Alexander connection late in the scrimmage.  What DeBoers decision may come down to is projecting who the best QB will be by the time the schedule turns to conference play.