Andrew Crawford is used to this by now.
In each of the past two seasons, the senior quarterback had found himself in the thick of a season-starting quarterback controversy. This year is no different with sophomore Keith Allan and North Carolina transfer Nick Cangelosi jockeying with Crawford for the starting role in new offensive coordinator Elliot Uzelac’s scheme.
“Every year is competitive,” Crawford said. “This year is really no different than the other ones. Every year we have excellent quarterbacks and that’s why the decision always seems to come down to this point.”
While Crawford earned the job out of camp and started 11 of 12 games last year, he has fallen behind Allan with Cangelosi running third in this year’s contest, Head Coach Bob Benson confirmed Tuesday. Allan, the smallest of the three competitors at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, did not play a down at quarterback last season, although he served as the team’s punter. His agility and speed during strong spring practice performances have offset his inexperience and impressed the coaches enough to spring him into the lead.
Allan injured his hip last week, however, frustrates the Hoyas’ plans to name a starter after Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage. Allan did not dress Saturday, but returned to practice Tuesday.
“It’s hard to say how everything is going to evolve since today was Keith’s first practice back,” Benson said after Tuesday morning’s practice. “We’re going to give him a few more days before we make a decision.”
“My hip felt good today,” Allan added. “I plan on practicing throughout the week.”
If Allan does earn the job, he will need to be fully healed to utilize the new offense installed by Uzelac, a former Head Coach at Navy. Uzelac has incorporated more option-based plays into the offense that will require increased quarterback mobility.
“Coach Uzelac’s system is one that’s wide-open, fun and creative,” Benson said. “It’s an offense that can be tailored to our personnel. What we’re going to be good at, we’re can tailor to our offense.”
Even though Benson expects to name a starter by Friday, recent history has shown that the quarterback position is liable to change throughout the year. Last season, Crawford split time with sophomore Alondzo Turner, who scored seven touchdowns on the ground. (Turner has since been dismissed from the team for an unspecified violation of team rules.) In 2002, Morgan Booth began the year as the starter and yielded the position to Crawford, who then gave way to David Paulus, after Crawford broke his collarbone. The continuing quarterback carousel may finally end this season, as Uzelac reportedly prefers to use one quarterback exclusively.
Regardless of who is at the helm for the Hoyas, he will have to overcome the graduation of last season’s two leading receivers: Luke McArdle, the Hoyas first First Team All-Patriot League performer, who also set Georgetown records in receiving and all-purpose yardage and Walter Bowser, who corralled 30 receptions. The Hoyas returning receivers have a total of just 27 career catches combined.
By contrast, the Hoyas’ ground game is both deep and experienced with the three-headed monster of senior John Sims and juniors Marcus Slayton and Kim Sarin returning at running back. Slayton ate up 701 yards on the ground last year, while Sims set a Hoyas’ single game record with 268 yards against Davidson last November.
The question remains, however, of who will be handing off the ball to them.
“I think we all bring a unique style, but whoever gets the number one spot, we’re going to do well. Everyone is optimistic around here,” Cangelosi said. “We all think we have a good shot. Whoever gets it we’ll be behind them 100 percent.”
The Hoyas will begin their season on Saturday September 4, against St. Francis (Pa.) at 1 p.m. on Harbin Field.
