Standing out
It may be early, but all four – the No. 1, the injured and two young guns – are battling for playing time at quarterback.
The No. 1 is Jose Fuentes, who threw 16 touchdowns in 10 starts last season and is the favorite to keep his job in the fall. Meanwhile, redshirt freshmen Travis Cox and Robert Fockaert are battling for playing time. Last season’s early starter Jeff Crosbie is recovering from injury and illness and has just begun practicing with the team.
“Right now we’re not worried about one, two, three,” said Fockaert, from Lancaster, Calif. “We’re all trying to get on the same page.”
USU head coach Mick Dennehy said he likes the competition.
“They’ve got to go in with the idea that they are competing for playing time and become as good as they can be,” he said. “We’ve got to have three or four ready to play.”
The soft-spoken Fuentes, who had a strong spring workout a year ago, said he is working well with the young wide receiving corps and the offensive system.
“The offense is getting easier and easier,” he said.
The same goes for Cox and Fockaert – but at a much slower pace.
“[Cox is] definitely talented enough,” Dennehy said of the Hyrum native. “He still lacks the number of repetitions and experience to be really comfortable, confident and smooth.”
Same goes for Fockaert, but he’s slightly behind Cox’s pace.
“[There was a time] where his mind was just boggled,” Dennehy said. “But he competes really well and has battled through it.”
Both Fockaert and Cox said it takes time to learn the team’s complicated offense, but Dennehy said each of them has more good days than bad.
“It’s a tough offense to learn, but it’s fun, it’s exciting, it’s explosive,” Fockaert said. “There’s a lot of good things you can do once you get it.”
In Saturday’s scrimmage, both freshmen seemed to be getting used to the system.
Cox led all quarterbacks with 80 yards and a touchdown, while Fockaert also threw a touchdown – although it was only a little swing pass to wide-open runningback David Fiefia.
He said he doesn’t care how he gets them in, he’s just happy to be getting some experience.
Dennehy likes Cox’ and aFockaert’s progress, but everyone echoed the same statement: “There is still a long way to go.”
“Both those guys will need to make strides in the spring [to get ready to play],” Dennehy said.
Meanwhile, the four said they are helping each other learn and get better.
“We’re all going for the same spot, but at the same time we’re trying to help each other out,” Fockaert said.