QB competition highlights start of Arizona State spring football practice

TEMPE, Ariz. — And they’re off.

The race to determine the new quarterback at Arizona State is underway with the start of spring football practice.

Currently, the Sun Devils have three competitors battling to fill the job left vacant with the graduation of Mike Bercovici.  They are sophomore Manny Wilkins and redshirt freshmen Bryce Perkins and Brady White.

All three, according to offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, received snaps with the first-team offense on Monday, something that will continue throughout each of the 15 practices this spring.

The focus, to no one’s surprise, was ball security.

“That’s really an emphasis for us is taking care of the football and I thought they did a nice job today,” said Lindsey, who will have a fourth quarterback added to the mix when true freshman Dillon Sterling-Cole joins the team in the fall.

Lindsey added he will also be paying attention to all three quarterbacks’ ability to lead.

“Who our team responds to,” he said.

It’s something head coach Todd Graham had discussed earlier in the month.

It’s what separated Bercovici, and Taylor Kelly before him.

The Sun Devils want a quarterback who can not only move the offense up-and-down the field, but one who will command the respect of his teammates.

“If you’re a quarterback at this level, if you don’t have it, you will not be successful,” Wilkins said, referring to leadership. “There’s a lot of guys out there who are amazing quarterbacks, but who never fully get to their full potential because they do not have that leadership skills that 10 guys are able to follow them on the field and they’re able make 10 guys better every time they step on the field.”

As the backup to Bercovici last season, Wilkins played in four games.

Though Wilkins did not attempt a pass, that’s four games of on-field experience the two other quarterbacks lack.

“I really think that everybody is even,” said Wilkins, who walked away unscathed from a recent car accident in which his vehicle was totaled. “Everybody has an equal opportunity, as long as you do not turn the football over; just do what you’ve got to do and the best guy will win the job.”

Added White, “It’s not about an individual, it’s about getting this team ready to get as many as wins as possible this season and go win championships.”

Coaches are watching everything.

“Everything is a competition out there, whether it’s run to the next station, competing with drills, competing with the defense or competing with your position,” Perkins said.  “That’s always fun and competition brings out the best in everybody.”

Of course the trick, according to Perkins, is maintaining a level head, especially on those bad days.

“One day at a time,” he said.  “Never get too high, never get too low — kind of stay medium. The mistakes, you erase them and go to the next play. Next play mentality, that’s what Coach teaches us.”

Neither Graham nor Lindsey discussed their quarterbacks’ play individually.

There was, however, one bit of news: White has switched numbers, from seven to two, Bercovici’s former number.

“I wore ‘2’ in high school so I think that’s why they switched me,” he said. “Technically, I’m wearing Berc’s number, but I looked up to Berc. He’s a great kid, as well as a quarterback. It’s an honor to wear No. 2 and be a Sun Devil.”

The quarterback competition is expected to last well into the fall with a starter perhaps not announced too much before the Sept. 3 season opener against Northern Arizona.

“It was a typical first day. You’re not in pads. It is what it is,” Lindsey said. “Helmets and shorts, but it was good to get the tempo going and getting guys lined up in the right places and all that, which is really all you can get out of these helmet days.”

Added Graham about day one, “I like our guys’ attitude.  They’ve got a blue-collar approach, going out and busting their tail today and had a good day. Obviously, it’s in helmets and shorts. We’re just kind of introducing things. It was really positive. I liked it, and I’m excited to see how that plays out.”

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