In the wings: Who will fill the void at QB for the Cougars next year?

PROVO — Blessed with two senior quarterbacks who have a wealth of experience, BYU boasts an explosive offense that has helped the Cougars to a 5-2 record this season.

So what happens in 2007, when John Beck and Jason Beck are gone?

That's a question BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall and his coaching staff must answer. The reality is, the Cougars will likely enter next season with a starting quarterback who has never taken a Division I snap.

Freshman Jacob Bower, a returned missionary, is listed at No. 3 on the depth chart, but the coaches intend to redshirt him. Max Hall, a redshirt freshman who transferred from Arizona State, is ineligible this season due to NCAA transfer rules. Freshman James Lark, who starred at Pine View High School a year ago, is expected to leave for a mission after the season. Freshman Sam Doman is injured and could change positions. Meanwhile, BYU has received a verbal commitment from Jason Munns, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound prep star from Kennewick, Wash.

All of which means a major quarterback battle is looming in the spring.

"I don't want to go into a season where I don't feel comfortable that I have a starter and a backup," said quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman. "The big push right now is, do we have a starter and a backup? Those are decisions that we're going to have to make and things we have to find out."

Coaches are already taking steps to find out by holding "Thursday Night Football" every week. It's a weekly scrimmage featuring redshirts and other players — including quarterbacks — who are trying to prove they deserve a shot to play.

"It's full-on tackle, live football every Thursday," Doman said. "These quarterbacks are going to have five or six more scrimmages apiece before we go into next year. That's the best thing for them. If I'm not putting them in a game, they might as well play in a game situation. I can really see who's progressing. We put them in the huddle, we call the offense and we cut them loose. It gives them a live look."

In those scrimmage situations, Hall has been impressive and is currently the front-runner among the quarterback hopefuls, Doman said.

"This is his second year of college football," Doman said. "He's been around the block (as opposed to) the other guys. That's what separates him is his experience. He's comfortable in this environment. I'm very impressed with his poise and his leadership and the way the team rallies around him. He throws the ball pretty good, and he has all the right intangibles. It's exciting.