With the season opener just over two weeks away, the QB competition remains open in Leatherneck camp. (Photo by GoLeathernecks.com)
By Dan Verdun
Western Illinois expects to name a starting quarterback “closer to game week,” head coach Myers Hendrickson told Prairie State Pigskin in a Tuesday phone interview.
“We’ve been talking about that (QB decision) as a staff. We’ve looked at making that decision after the film is graded. The final decision won’t be made until we get closer to game week,” Hendrickson said in reference to WIU’s Sept. 2 season opener at New Mexico State.
Hendrickson said that Wednesday’s controlled scrimmage – complete with Missouri Valley Football Conference officials – and Saturday’s final practice before classes start will be important measuring sticks in determining the choice.
A year ago, three different quarterbacks made starts and saw significant playing time as Western suffered through an 0-11 season.
Hendrickson, a former WIU player now in his second year as Leatherneck head coach, wants this year to have a different outcome.
“You, and in that I’m talking about myself, would want to settle on one guy and go with him,” Hendrickson said of the quarterback decision. “That’s what my experience has been as an offensive coordinator and head coach.
“I’ve had one (main starting) quarterback up until last year, when we felt like there were individuals who gave us a better chance to win in given weeks. In an ideal world, you’d have one quarterback you go with every single week.”
Two of those three quarterbacks from last season are gone, leaving one experienced returnee along with two transfers the WIU staff brought to Macomb.
“We’re excited about that competition in that room,” Hendrickson said during the Aug. 1 MVFC virtual media day.
Thirteen practices into fall camp, the trio is still competing.
The candidates
Clay Bruno
The junior returns after appearing in eight games last fall.
Bruno, listed at 5-foot-10 and 194 pounds, completed 112 of 224 passes for 1,334 yards. He threw for seven touchdowns but was intercepted 13 times.
Bruno showed scrambling ability, running for 177 yards on 84 carries with a touchdown.
The downstate Rochester High School product recorded both his season highs – 220 passing and 84 rushing – in a 17-10 home loss to Southern Utah.
Asked what he brings to the team, Bruno said, “Leadership. With me being here last year and being experienced with the staff a little bit, (I have an) understanding of Western’s aspect and how it felt last year and being able to communicate that to some of the newer guys.”
Matt Morrissey
The Elmhurst native transferred to WIU from Missouri Valley member Northern Iowa, where he appeared in five games over two seasons.
Morrissey, listed at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds, is a junior. Prior to his time at Northern Iowa, Morrissey played at Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he earned junior college All-American honors.
Morrissey threw for 1,523 yards, 13 touchdowns and two interceptions for Trinity in 2021.
“I’m a quarterback who can make a lot of throws. I’ve got a pretty good knowledge of the game. I’m a transfer, so I’ve got a pretty good knowledge of the (Missouri) Valley,” the Montini Catholic graduate said.
Nathan Lamb
The California native transferred from College of Sequoias in his home state.
Lamb, listed at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, is a junior. He passed for 2,166 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall.
In three seasons at his previous school, Lamb appeared in 23 games, going 358-for-583 for 4,659 yards with 40 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran the ball 173 times for 674 yards and 23 touchdowns.
“I bring competitiveness and toughness. My playing style is that I can do it with my legs and with my arm,” Lamb said.
The benefits of competition
All three quarterbacks feel competition is healthy for the overall program.
“It’s good for the whole team aspect. It helps each of us get better. We’re always pushing each other every day out there at practice. It’s something you have to push for. You have to strive for. It helps in that it makes everybody better,” Bruno said.
Morrissey said, “Quarterback competitions are healthy no matter where you are because it always brings out excellence. You can’t have a day where you take your foot off the gas. You have to bring it every day. If you don’t, the next man is going to step it up.”
‘No one wants to be the backup quarterback’
Bob Nielson was WIU’s head coach from 2013 to 2015. His last Leatherneck team advanced into the second round of the FCS playoffs.
Nielson left Macomb to become South Dakota head coach in 2016, a position he still holds.
During the MVFC virtual media day earlier this month, Nielson said that the most difficult position to fill in college football is backup quarterback because “no one wants to be the backup quarterback” in this transfer portal era.
Hendrickson is aware of his conference rival’s statement, but takes a different view.
“I respect what Coach Nielson said, but I do think in our Leatherneck football family and on a football team, everyone has a role,” Hendrickson said. “What I will tell my quarterbacks every year is that we expect to win every game with everybody in the room. One guy goes out there, but everybody in the room is expected to be able to go out there and win that game.
“The No. 2 quarterback knows that it’s a next man up mentality. Even though he may not be the starter, he has to be ready every single game.”
His quarterbacks seem to share that approach.
“We need competition, not just in the quarterback room but everywhere else too,” Lamb said.
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