Nelson, Black impress

LOGAN — Utah State football coach Brent Guy wasn't ready to name a backup to starting quarterback Leon Jackson III following Thursday's final open-to-the-public scrimmage, but he did whittle the number of candidates down to two.

Freshman Riley Nelson and senior Bryan Black have set themselves apart from Jase McCormick and Mike Affleck in recent practices and scrimmages, and the job will go to one of those two.

"We'll wait and watch the film and then do that," Guy said. "Both guys are doing good things."

On Thursday Black, in a dozen plays from scrimmage, completed 2 of 5 passes for 108 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also rushed for nine yards.

In the first scrimmage last week, Black completed 12 of 15 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown.

Nelson, in 19 plays, completed 6 of 10 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown, while in the first scrimmage he completed 3 of 7 passes for 32 yards and a touchdown. In the two scrimmages he combined for 13 rushing yards.

"Riley's a little bit more prone to scramble and run with the football more effectively, and Bryan's very good in the two-minute offense, so both of them have things to give," Guy said. "It'll be a close call which way we go after we watch the film."

Guy said he would make the announcement in the next couple of days.

Affleck, a transfer from Arizona State, BYU and most recently Dixie State, was in the mix for a time, but he is still trying to pick up the offense.

"He's way behind in the learning curve because he wasn't here," Guy said. "Riley had the advantage of being here in the summer and being able to come out and work out with the guys and throw a little bit ...

Riley has a better knowledge of our offense right now than Mike does."

Also figuring into it is the fact that Affleck isn't eligible to play in the season opener at Wyoming because of NCAA transfer rules.

He will be eligible Sept. 6.

Affleck saw limited time Thursday and completed both his pass attempts for 29 yards and a touchdown.

McCormick completed 2 of 3 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown.

Jackson went 5 for 6 for 56 yards and a touchdown.

All five quarterbacks combined to go 17 of 26 for 300 yards and five touchdowns.