ASU QB Trenton Bourguet: I’ve prepared my whole life for this opportunity

Prepare every day like you’re the starter. That is what backups are told in every football practice, especially in a sport where second-stringers are just one play away from being the next man up to becoming the guy.

And since his freshman year in 2019, Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Trenton Bourguet has been doing just that.

After setting 5A state records at Marana High School in Tucson, Bourguet walked on at ASU before eventually earning a scholarship and becoming the team’s backup in 2020.

So when the backup QB was on the headset during Arizona State’s game against then-No. 21 Washington, he was more than prepared to step in as the team’s signal caller.

“As soon as I saw (Emory Jones) slide, I wasn’t nervous, but I’m aware of him running and same thing when it was Jayden (Daniels) — I’m aware of it when happening,” Bourguet told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Tuesday.

“When I saw him stay down for a couple more seconds than he usually does, I just ran straight to get my helmet on, put it on and got some snaps in. I think I threw about four or five times.”

On Bourguet’s first play in for the injured Jones, the quarterback handed off to running back Xazavian Valladay, who took it 11 yards to end zone for the game-tying score.

This was the very next play after Arizona State QB Emory Jones came out of the game after taking a hit to the head on a targeting penalty.pic.twitter.com/dYTAYeHxCt https://t.co/kGKRWoLUMN

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) October 8, 2022

“It was a great first play to go in and be able to hand the ball off and we scored just like that to get some rhythm just to feel the game,” Bourguet said.

But it wasn’t just being a game manager for the backup QB. Bourguet took the offense to new heights it hasn’t seen yet this season in the 45-38 upset win.

The signal caller finished the day 15 of 21 (71%) for 182 yards, three touchdown passes and one interception.

His poise and awareness in the pocket were put on full display in his first full possession of the game. Bourguet led the team on an 11-play, 90-yard drive that featured two third-down conversions through the air and culminated in a 14-yard touchdown pass to Valladay.

He also took a big hit on the TD pass, which he would do once more on the game-winning touchdown throw to Elijhah Badger in the fourth quarter.

The 11-play, 90-yard drive is probably ASU’s best of the season.pic.twitter.com/nm5QDOGvUk

— Jake Anderson (@jwa1994) October 8, 2022

“Just taking what the defense gave me and trusting my teammates and coaches,” Bourguet said.

“This is what I’ve prepared for the last four-five years and really my whole life. This is what I’ve been waiting for and just make sure to make the most of the opportunity and help the team win. It was an amazing day for sure.”

But when it comes to who the Sun Devils’ starting QB will be going forward — assuming Jones is healthy — that question will remain a mystery for at least another week.

ASU interim head coach Shaun Aguano said postgame on Saturday that he wouldn’t name a starter, but that there would be competition in the quarterback room.

And with Arizona State on its bye week before a trip up to Palo Alto against the Stanford Cardinal on Oct. 22, there’s no reason for Aguano to tip his hand before he has to.

“I don’t really know how it’s going to go,” Bourguet said. “But I’m just going to prepare the way I have been the last four years and this whole season.

“I’ll be ready for whoever they name the starter is — I know either one of us will be ready. I’m just going to control what I can and whatever (coach Aguano) says goes and I’ll be ready whenever my name is called.”

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