USU coach vows not to get beat at quarterback position

LOGAN — Utah State quarterback Leon Jackson III had a season to forget last year.

In four of his first five games, before being benched for Riley Nelson, Jackson threw six interceptions and five were returned for touchdowns.

Also, his team didn't score an offensive touchdown until Game 5.

"The first thing that's going to happen at the quarterback position is it won't get us beat," Utah State football coach Brent Guy said. "(The quarterback) won't make critical mistakes."

The Aggies were shut out in three of the first four games, and if it wasn't for a defensive touchdown in the season opener at Wyoming it would have been four.

How Jackson, who is in a battle with junior college transfer Sean Setzer and sophomore Jase McCormick for the starting position, learns from and forgets 2006 will determine whether or not the senior will be the starter for the third consecutive season when the Aggies host UNLV on Aug. 30.

Nelson, who started the last seven games and led the Aggies to their only win — a 13-12 decision over Fresno State — left for an LDS Mission to Spain during the offseason.

"He (Jackson) knows there is competition there. He knows it isn't going to he handed to him, and he knows that from last year," Guy said. "He knows he didn't perform well. He knows what the problems were. I think he's still going to have to go out there and perform on a consistent, daily basis."

The Aggies opened camp Tuesday, and Guy said they will most likely name the starter in two weeks or so, but they may do it sooner if someone breaks away from the pack.

Utah State ranked 114th in the nation in total offense (254.4 yards per game) and 117th in scoring (10.8 points), and getting that situation remedied all begins with the signal-caller.

"Offensively, you always start with the quarterback position, and where we do not have a declared starter right, it will be real important to evaluate and decided through two major scrimmages," Guy said.

Two years ago, Jackson was the only quarterback on the roster with Div. I experience, and this year, he is the only quarterback with a start. Mike Affleck, who played in just one game last year, is the only other with experience, but he was at least fourth on the depth chart when camp opened.

Basically, the job is for Jackson or Setzer to take.