San Jose State coach still mulling over quarterback options

SAN JOSE -- San Jose State is still at least a few days away from announcing a starting quarterback for its Aug. 31 opener at Stanford.

The Spartans held their only scheduled scrimmage of training camp Saturday at Spartan Stadium, and coach Mike MacIntyre said he isn't ready to decide who will begin the year under center.

"We'll get back in and watch the tape from today, and we'll go a couple days, and then we'll make a decision," MacIntyre said.

David Fales, a junior transfer from Monterey Peninsula College, has been the presumed favorite since spring to win the battle against junior Dasmen Stewart and sophomore Blake Jurich.

Fales' numbers Saturday didn't look good -- 1 of 7 passing for 5 yards -- but that included two dropped passes and one that was caught just out of bounds.

The scrimmage opened with the second-team offense taking the field, led by Stewart. The highlight of that drive was a 34-yard pass to Sean Linton. Stewart finished 6 of 10 for 86 yards. Jurich was 2 of 3 for 9 yards, and freshman Joe Gray was 5 of 9 for 68 yards, including a 39-yard TD pass to Hansel Wilson.

Sophomore Tyler Ervin also scored, on a 1-yard run. MacIntyre acknowledged Saturday what has been clear throughout camp: Ervin, originally a projected starter at cornerback, will open the season as a running back.

"He's too explosive on offense," MacIntyre said. "He can make things happen by himself. ... We didn't have a lot of explosive

runs last year, and he gives us that ability."

Ervin also showcased his special-teams skills, returning a kick about 70 yards before being caught around the 20-yard line.

"The kick return was actually supposed to be to the left, but there was an opening to the right, so I just took it," Ervin said.

The Spartans' depth at cornerback is one reason MacIntyre feels comfortable playing Ervin on offense. Damon Ogburn Jr., Forrest Hightower, Jimmy Pruitt, Dasheon Frierson and Bene Benwikere will fill Ervin's defensive void.

"All those guys have really improved," MacIntyre said. "I felt they've really come along this fall camp."

Senior safety Cullen Newsome likes the way the secondary is performing.

"I look at the corner position, and there are seven, eight guys that can fly and cover," Newsome said. "With someone of Tyler's pedigree, if we've got other guys that can do that, why not use him as a weapon on offense?"

MacIntyre hasn't decided on a place-kicker between junior Harrison Waid and freshman Austin Lopez. Waid was the punter and kickoff specialist last season and began the season as the place-kicker before Jens Alvernik took over.

In the scrimmage, Waid made field goals of 32, 39 and 42 yards, and his 58-yard attempt was blocked. Lopez missed from 42 and 46 yards and made a 29-yard kick.

The scrimmage was short on highlight-reel plays but also was free of major mistakes other than a couple of dropped passes and a false-start penalty. There were no turnovers or botched snaps.

SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Time
Aug. 31 at Stanford 7
Sept. 8 vs. UC Davis 5
Sept. 15 vs. Colorado St. 5
Sept. 22 at San Diego St. 5
Sept. 29 at Navy 12:30
Oct. 13 vs. Utah St. 1
Oct. 20 at UTSA 11a
Oct. 27 vs. Texas St. 1
Nov. 3. at Idaho 2
Nov. 10 at NMSU 12:30
Nov. 17 vs. BYU 1
Nov. 24 vs. La. Tech 1

Source: http://www.insidebayarea.com/top-stories/ci_21345601/san-jose-state-coach-still-mulling-over-quarterback?source=rss

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