By Aaron Johnson (@voz_aaron1) – Spear Reporter | Sophomore quarterback Emmett Brown scrambles in San Jose States’s 35-31 win against Nevada (photo by Mat Bejarano – Spear Editor)
Who is going to be the starting quarterback for San Jose State football (4-1, 2-0 MW) headed into this week’s matchup with Colorado State (2-3, 0-0 MW)?
We won’t know until game time and might see both quarterbacks get action for the rest of the season.
“In my mind we have two starters,” offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said. “This quarterback battle is going to go throughout the whole season.”
The idea of swapping between sophomore Emmett Brown and junior Walker Eget based on matchups throughout the season is not a new concept to Stutzmann.
“He talked to us before the season and he told us that he has no problem taking guys out,” Brown said. “We saw him do it at Hawaii with Chevan Cordeiro and Cole McDonald.”
When making his shifts, Stutzmann likes to analyze everything he can before going forward with picking a starter.
“I like to see how the original starter handles the situation,” Stutzmann said. “You just want to see how they respond and if they can reset and get back where they’re going to be, then by all means I go back to where it is.”
Stutzmann said Brown has handled the situation well, but he also has stated that Eget has elevated his game to the next level.
Brown is the current Mountain West leader in passing yards as well as touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,460 yards and 15 touchdowns on the season.
The Spartans will be traveling to Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado to face off against the Rams at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow. Brown said the Spartans will be going against an experienced defense.
“They have a ton of senior leadership on that team,” Brown said. “They’re able to disguise very well and they’re able to show different things.”
On the defensive side of the ball, the Spartans have had to face scrambling quarterbacks throughout the whole season. Including Washington State’s John Mateer and Nevada’s Brendon Lewis the past two games.
This week SJSU’s defense faces off against sophomore Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi who is a quarterback who operates as a pocket passer.
“It’s great not having to face a running quarterback but he’s a very good pocket passer,” senior linebacker Jordan Cobbs said. “We’ll be more strategic in our pass game, getting to our drops and getting to the quarterback.”
Fowler-Nicolosi 865 yards paired with four touchdowns and four interceptions.
Head coach Ken Niumatalolo stated that junior defensive back Michael Dansby is in concussion protocol and his status for tomorrow’s game is questionable.
Cobbs, who missed the last game with an injury, is expected to play.
The Spartans face a big loss in senior defensive lineman Quincy Likio who according to Niumatalolo is out for the season after having surgery on his hand. But this will not mark the end of Likio’s playing career.
“He’s got a redshirt so we’re excited to have him back,” Niumatalolo said. “He’s one of our best players.”
With all the injuries it is important for the Spartans to keep a next-man-up mentality.
“The guys that came in to fill in did an amazing job,” Cobbs said. “There wasn’t really a drop off talent wise and it feels great to look at the (Nevada) game to see that nothing dramatic is happening and the guys know their jobs.”
