Finding QB top priority for Aggies

Nothing like starting spring football with a little quarterback controversy.

With starter Riley Nelson off serving an LDS Church mission, the quarterback job, which was squarely his before he left, is now up for grabs for the Utah State Aggies.

"The quarterback situation is going to be one of interest," Utah State football coach Brent Guy said prior to today's first non-padded practice of spring drills for the Aggies.

Leon Jackson III, who has been the opening-day starter for the last two years but has yet to finish, appears to be the frontrunner, if he can shake the interception blues that haunted him in his five starts before being replaced by Nelson.

He will fight for the job with junior-college transfer Sean Setzer, Mike Affleck and Jase McCormick.

Jackson completed 73 of 150 passes for 694 yards and three touchdowns with seven interceptions — five of which were returned for touchdowns.

Affleck went 0-for-2, and McCormick didn't play.

"There is going to be a lot of competition at a lot of positions, but that particular position will be an important race for us," Guy said.

The Aggies averaged just 10.8 points and 254.4 yards per game last season. Former North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey was hired as the offensive coordinator in an effort to jump-start the anemic offense.

"One of the things we are doing is having the nonpadded practices up front," Guy said. "On the offensive side of the ball, we are not changing things completely, but with (new offensive coordinator) Darrell Dickey there are some things that we can get done without pads on that will help speed up the communication process. That will be important early for the offensive side of the ball to get familiar with the system."

In all, the Aggies return seven players on the offensive side of the ball: namely wide receiver Kevin Robinson, who led the team in receptions; and three offensive linemen, Pace Jorgensen, Shawn Murphy and Ryan Toonnemacher.

Noticeably absent is leading rusher Marcus Cross, who chose to transfer during the offseason to be closer to his family.

Derrvin Speight, Jacob Actkinson, Aaron Lesue and senior Chris Forbes, who led the team in rushing as a freshman, will battle for a starting spot at running back.

Defensively, the Aggies return 11 starters and four more who started at least four games.