With San Diego State's all-time leading passer Ryan Lindley moving up to the big leagues, an already interesting battle for the starting quarterback job gets even more interesting when a Pac-12 transfer enters the mix.
After four seasons at Oregon State, Ryan Katz was granted his release and announced this past Thursday that he will complete his last season of eligibility at San Diego State. Katz will graduate in March making him eligible to play this upcoming season. He began last season as OSU's starting quarterback but was benched after halftime during a loss to Sacramento State in the opening game.
Due to his experience in the Pac-12 and the lack of experience on SDSU's current depth chart, Katz is already the early favorite to get the starting nod. This will be a golden opportunity for him to not only redeem his career but possibly improve his NFL Draft stock.
But don’t count the younger guys out just yet! They’re all very talented and itching to prove to coach Rocky Long that they’re worthy of leading the offense this season despite their inexperience.
With uncertainty still in the air, the competition looks wide open and should bring out the best in all players involved.
Meet The Contenders
Ryan Katz - RS Senior - 6’1 215lbs
After redshirting in 2008, Katz played a total of 18 games during his career at OSU completing 239 of 406 pass attempts for 2,722 yards and 19 touchdowns.
What he can bring to the table:
- Collegiate experience as a starter (14 career starts)
- Another season for the younger quarterbacks to learn and develop under senior leadership
Adam Dingwell - RS Sophomore - 6’4 195lbs
Dingwell ran the scout team offense as a redshirt freshman in 2010 and won the Offensive Scout Player of the Year award. In 2011 he turned some heads during spring drills and worked his way up to the backup spot. He only recorded one pass attempt during the season.
What he can bring to the table:
- The speed and athleticism to make plays with his feet
- A strong arm that gives him the ability to make difficult throws
Chad Jeffries - Sophomore - 6’2 175lbs
Jeffries was rated the #10 pro-style quarterback coming out of high school and competed with Adam Dingwell for the back-up spot as a freshman in 2011. Before Ryan Katz came into the picture, he was favored by many to be the starter in 2012 despite not taking a single snap during the 2011 season.
What he can bring to the table:
- Great passing accuracy
- Extreme mobility
Jake Bernards - RS Junior - 6’5 225lbs
Bernards made the travel squad as a true freshman in 2009 but did not play. In 2010 he saw very limited action on the field backing up Ryan Lindley. He didn’t play at all during the 2011 season.
What he can bring to the table:
- Ideal size for a quarterback
- Great arm strength
Ryne Clark - RS Junior - 6'2 205lbs
After using his redshirt as a walk-on in 2009, Clark didn’t see any playing time in 2010. He was in the mix for the backup job in 2011 but ended up staying on the bench during the season.
What he can bring to the table:
- Mobility
- Knowledge of the system
- Knowledge of the system
Matt Morin - 2012 Commit - 6’2 217lbs
The rocket-armed quarterback committed to San Diego State last August and will graduate in time to compete for the job this spring.
What he can bring to the table:
No comments:
Post a Comment