The competition to be Washington’s starting QB between rages on between Indiana transfer Michael Penix, Sam Huard and Dylan Morris. And it sounds like it may continue for a few more days. With the season opener just 2 weeks away, there are many factors for DeBoer to consider when choosing his signal-caller so he’s in no hurry to announce the QB for the season opener against Kent State on September 3rd.
“We’ll go through the process here in a little bit–throughout the weekend.” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said after practice on Saturday. “We gotta make sure that we handle it right with the guys, the quarterbacks as well as with the team.”
RealDawg.com’s Trevor Mueller is surprised that the decision is taking so long.
“To be honest, I’m a little shocked that it’s taking so long,” said Mueller. “Is the glass half full or half empty? Is competition so fierce that there is not clear favorite yet or the other way around?”
With Washington’s first game of the season being against Kent State, not exactly a powerhouse, not naming his QB isn’t being viewed as gamesmanship.
“There’s no advantage to naming or not naming the QB, at this point,” Mueller said. “Washington should easily overpower Kent State.”
Although last year’s 14-7 loss to Montana may serve as a cautionary tale on paper the Golden Flashes appear to be overmatched.
After Saturday’s practice, DeBoer said that the offense ran exactly scrimmage 75 plays, but gave no indication of who is leading the QB competition.
Ironically, the last time that Washington’s QB battle went this long DeBoer Jacob Eason beat out Jake Haener for the job and the runner-up transferred to Fresno State, eventually becoming the Bulldogs’ starting QB for DeBoer the last two seasons. Haener was a top 10 QB nationally in 2020 and 2021.
“It would be nice for Washington’s starting QB a nice rhythm ahead of Kent State,” Mueller noted. “However, the first game may be the best game to find a rhythm as the KSU defense gave up an average of 36 points to Power 5 opponents in 2021.”
It sounds like a decision will be made early next week.
