Cougars part ways with freshman QB, defensive back

PROVO — When spring practices begin at BYU in less than two months, four quarterbacks will battle for the starting job.

Now that Jacob Bower has opted to transfer to Bakersfield College in California, that leaves Arizona State transfer Max Hall, redshirt freshman Sam Doman, and two junior college transfers, Cade Cooper and Brendon Gaskins, in the quarterback derby.

BYU is looking to replace Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year John Beck. Hall, who ran the scout team last fall, is the early frontrunner, coach Bronco Mendenhall said. As of now, he expects Hall to be taking reps with the first team in the spring.

"I've been impressed with Max running the scout team last year," Mendenhall said. "I like his presence and his confidence and his competitive spirit. He's not afraid to say or do things that he thinks that are appropriate in any given situation to lead. Scout team is a very difficult role, yet he helped our defense, much like (running back) Curtis Brown did a number of years ago. He played a very similar role and I saw similar attributes in a difficult situation that I respect."

Cooper, a transfer from Snow College, was named a Junior College all-American and NJCAA offensive player of the year in 2006. He passed for 224 of 334 for 3,103 yards, 31 touchdowns and a had a pass efficiency rating of 170.4. Cooper, who came to BYU as a walk-on, led the Badgers to an 11-win season.

"He's coming to BYU because he's passionate about BYU. If I would have had a scholarship left, I certainly would have gone after him, recruited him, and awarded him one," Mendenhall said. "I felt like he was capable and qualified, and met all the criteria we have for our program. That he walked-on isn't in relation to what his value would be to this program. I think he'll compete hard against Max."

Mendenhall expects to name a starter at quarterback long before fall camp opens in August.

"I'm not saying I can determine the starter right now. We'll let the offseason and spring determine that. What I'd like to have in place is a starter named before summer, much like I did with Jason and John Beck a couple of years ago. It's such a defining period in terms of leadership when coaches can't be out there."

Doman, who suffered an injury the second week of fall camp, will also compete for the job in the spring. "I can't really speak to his quarterback ability other than what I saw in high school, which I was impressed with," Mendenhall said.