Rolovich gives update on quarterback battle

Last week when Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich was asked if he would announce a starting quarterback by the end of the week he said that decision would more likely come this week. When asked with the same question this week he said that he does not expect to make that announcement this week either further causing fans to debate who will be leading the Cougars come this season.

The quarterback battle between last years starter Jayden De Laura, junior Cammon Cooper, and graduate transfer Jarrett Guarantano has all of us curious who will lead the Cougars to start the 2021 season that kicks off in just a few short weeks. One other name was thrown into consideration and would be one to keep an eye on is sophomore walk-on Victor Gabalis, While Gabalis and Guarantano have yet to throw a pass for the Cougars, the two of them are making their case to Rolovich as to why they should lead the team this season.

“Obviously we want to know who runs the offense good but we want to know who’s going to lead. Who’s going to take the other 10 guys and inspire them to be better” said Rolovich. The second year head coach took up until the Monday before the Cougars first game last year to announce De Laura would be the starter last year.

During Monday’s practice, De Laura and Gabalis were the only two to participate with the first and second team offense during 7-on-7 drills according to Theo Lawson of the Spokesman Review. He pointed out that De Laura went 5-7 during that period and then went 3-3 during the 11-on-11 period. Both Cooper and Guarantano went 3-3 during the team period but then went a combined 1-5 to finish the day during the last segment of 11-on-11.

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Football:

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The battle to be Washington State’s starting QB: Here are the four contenders

While most figured it was a three-man competition between returning starter Jayden de Laura, Tennessee graduate transfer Jarrett Guarantano, and fourth-year junior Cammon Cooper, Rolovich added another name to the competition: sophomore Victor Gabalis.

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Judging by the comments Rolovich made after the team’s first scrimmage on Saturday, it seemed the Cougars were still at least a week out – or longer – from naming a starting quarterback and the second-year confirmed as much on Monday.