College football position groups usually have at least two starters and can even go up to more. But there can only be one quarterback.
The illustrious starting quarterback position is decided on through competition, reps, accuracy, experience and more. The starter for the Cardinals this season will be redshirt freshman Kadin Semonza.
Former Ball State quarterback and current head coach Mike Neu said support for the QB1 within the quarterback room is vital.
In the event that a quarterback doesn’t get the starting job, they have to be prepared to embrace their next role available, Neu said.
“They [backup quarterbacks] play a big role when it is time to game plan,” Neu said. “They play a big role in studying tape and studying our opponent.
“We have a good room like that. Everyone wants to play but at the end of the day everybody knows they have a job to do.”
With stiff competition on the field, the quarterbacks can also have fun on it. After camp, each quarterback plays “football golf.” The goal is to create a golf hole out of objects on the field; the zero in 10, the Cardinals eye, the gap in A in Cardinals and the list goes on.
Semonza said playing games like football golf helps the already close quarterback room become even closer together while enjoying a game they all love.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Colin Blazek said that having games like football golf is important to keep things lighter in the tough weeks of camp. But just because it is a game doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to beat each other.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Aidan Leffler said that although there is always competition, the quarterback room is a tight-knit group.
“At the end of the day, whoever does or doesn’t win the job, we are still going to love you and cheer you on,” Leffler said. “It can be on the sideline or field, wherever.”
Neu said the gameday roles for QB2 and QB3 are vital to the Cardinals. They are involved in the communication process of signals on the headsets. They constantly communicate with coaches and players on the field and in the booth.
A game day for redshirt sophomore Colin Blazek can be giving signals or even dummy signals to throw opponents off. He also watches all aspects of the play to communicate issues with the coaches and quarterback.
“[You have to] trust your eyes and what you see,” Blazek said. “Knowing you are kind of a coach on the sidelines because we know the entire gameplan in and out, through and through.”
The job takes work to evaluate plays, and having the ability to communicate and make changes with players and coaches.
Semonza said having an extra set of eyes from the sideline with the backup quarterbacks is great to have. They are able to help him adjust and figure things out that can hopefully result in a big play, Semonza said.
Semonza said he has been able to learn a variety of things from Neu about the quarterback position, especially in the film room.
“Him [Neu] being around guys like Drew Brees, it is great to just pick his brain and hopefully make myself a better player because of that,” Semonza said.
Semonza said leading the quarterback room as QB1 is an honor.
“We are a bunch of competitors, plain and simple,” Semonza said. “Those guys all work their tails off to be the best they can as a person, player and all that kind of stuff.”
Contact Elijah Poe at elijah.poe@bsu.edu or on X at @ElijahPoe4.
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