Utah State football: Now the Aggies need to name a starting QB

LOGAN — While the Aggies are still trying to figure out who will be their starting quarterback, the rest of the team is rounding into shape nicely.

Running backs Robert Turbin, Michael Smith, Joey DeMartino and Robert Marshall all had a few nice runs while wide receivers Xavier Martin, Eric Moats and Chuck Jacobs all made big plays and caught a touchdown pass apiece.

To help evaluate the team, Andersen brought in an old friend in former Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn to give an outside perspective this week. Glenn was complimentary of the job Andersen has been doing at Utah State and thinks the team is close to becoming a contender in the WAC.

"They are right on the cusp of being special here," Glenn said. "I think a lot of it will go into the hands of the quarterback. If they can get an answer there, they are good enough everywhere else to compete. In all my years, 38 of them coaching, you need that one magical win over someone that has arrived and it will take your program to another level. … They are all saying believe right now, but I think they will really believe if they can get that firecracker win early and get some wind in their sails."

That breakthrough win could come as soon as week one in Glenn's opinion.

"If they played like that at Oklahoma last year, there is no reason they can't do that at Auburn," said Glenn.

With the improvement in size and skill on the offensive line, and the health of all the returning playmakers, much of that responsibility will fall on the shoulders of whichever quarterback wins the starting job.

"We have to make a decision. It's time to move forward," Andersen said. "We will evaluate this tape extremely hard. It won't be just this scrimmage; it will be all of camp. There will be a lot of time spent this weekend to determine that decision. Ultimately I'll sit down with Dave (Baldwin, offensive coordinator) and it will be our call. I'd like to get it done the first of next week so the team knows who their starting quarterback is."

Both quarterbacks looked good at points during Saturday's scrimmage. Adam Kennedy finished 12-of-17 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, including nine straight completions at one point. Chuckie Keeton struggled early and did not complete his first pass until his sixth attempt, but finished 7-of-16 for 100 yards and a TD and also made plays happen with his feet.

While Andersen and Baldwin study the tape and make a decision over the weekend, Glenn thinks that Keeton is the man for the job, but the Aggies will be in good hands either way.

"You can't deny Chuckie. I think he has the feet and can make some things happen with his feet," said Glenn. "I thought (Kennedy) had a real good day today. He threw some really good balls and he drove the team down the field a couple times. … I'd say you'll see both of them for the first half of the season, but I think Chuckie throughout camp has been a guy who can make some plays with his feet and has been accurate and makes the plays you can't coach."