Midwestern State still searching for starting QB entering season opener
Midwestern State coach Bill Maskill opened his interview portion at the Lone Star Conference Media Days, talking about how he didn’t know who the quarterback would be this year.
Redshirt freshman Carson Roper is the lone remaining quarterback on the roster that received playing time during the spring game.
Roper has rotated snaps with Northern Michigan transfer Zachary Keen and Eastern Illinois transfer James Cooper Jr. throughout fall camp.
Has Maskill decided on a starting quarterback days away from traveling to meet Colorado State-Pueblo to open the 2023 season?
“I don’t think we know that yet,” Maskill said. “All three guys have been taking snaps, and we need to get as many evaluations as we can before we make a decision.”
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The time for evaluation is nearing an end with the Mustangs, who are set to kickoff the new campaign at 7 p.m. local time Saturday inside the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl. Maskill praised each quarterback for their improvement during the offseason.
“They’ve all improved a lot. Even though (Keen) played at Northern Michigan, he hasn’t started and played in our system,” Maskill said. “He comes from a league that has won national championships and (the LSC) hasn’t recently, so he knows how to play against guys that are good. But he has to adapt to what we’re doing.”
The remaining options to start at quarterback haven’t seen any playing time in college. Cooper served a redshirt season at Iowa Western in 2021 and did not appear in any games for EIU last year. However, Cooper was dynamic at Harlem High School in Illinois, accounting for 5,996 passing yards with 70 touchdowns and 21 interceptions.
Roper spent last season as a redshirt with the Mustangs, completing 12 of 22 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the Maroon & Gold Spring Game. The Klein Cain product threw for 4,775 yards with 42 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for the Wildcats over three seasons.
What does Maskill still want to see from all three guys to pick a starter?
“They have to be able to manage the game and make the right choices,” Maskill said. “They need to get people lined up and run the offense.”
Another unknown for MSU and the coaching staff is what to expect from the Thunderwolves on Saturday. Former Western New Mexico coach Philip Vigil was hired to replace John Wristen, who announced his retirement after coaching the program for 15 seasons.
Upon arrival in Pueblo, the Mustangs will see some familiar faces, including former MSU offensive line coach Garrett Graf, serving as co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach for CSU-Pueblo, and former MSU wide receiver Ja’Marzeyea Arvie. Vigil added former Texas A&M-Commerce and Stephen F. Austin defensive assistant Caid Faske as defensive coordinator.
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Offensively, Maskill believes he will see something similar to what Vigil ran at WNMU. Defensively, the veteran coach isn’t sure what to expect from Faske, who comes from the Colby Carthel coaching tree.
“They’ve got a couple of different systems that they run,” Maskill said. “Now, I’m not sure what he’ll use against us. I don’t know if they’ll be in a four-man front or insert a safety in the box.”
With so many unknowns, expect the Mustangs to make adjustments on the sideline following each drive.
“Not knowing what they’re going to do means that we’re practicing for everything imaginable,” Maskill said.
MIDWESTERN STATE AT COLORADO STATE-PUEBLO
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday at the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl in Pueblo, Colo.
Audio: MSU, LoneStarConferenceNetwork.com/msu/ (PxP: Pete Stein)
Live webcast: RMACNetwork.com/GoThunderwolves/
Live updates: visit MSUMustangs.com for live stats
Records: MSU 0-0, CSU-Pueblo 0-0
Last game: Angelo St. 37, MSU 19; Colorado School of Mines 45, CSU-Pueblo 24 (DII playoffs)
Last meeting/series: CSU-Pueblo 59, MSU 27 (Sept. 3, 2022) CSU-Pueblo leads series 2-0
Players to watch: MSU - K’Vonte Jackson (Sr, RB); Ja’Juan Mason (Sr, WR); Dylon Davis (Sr, DB); James Cooper Jr. (Fr, QB); Ritse Vaes (Jr, PK). CSU-Pueblo - Eli Pittman (Jr, DB); Chance Fuller (Sr, QB); Cody Ramming (Jr, DL); Ja’Marzeyea Arvie (Sr, WR); Kiahn Martinez (Jr, RB).
Notes: Saturday will mark the first time MSU has played at the CSU Pueblo Thunderbowl. MSU has finished at least tied for third in the LSC in 10 of the last 13 seasons. Maskill is beginning his 22nd season at the helm of the Mustangs. Maskill enters the 2023 season responsible for 59.3% of all wins in MSU program history. He is currently the 14th-winningest active coach in D-II with a 469-73 overall record. Maskill has 156 wins in the LSC, second to the legendary Ron Harms (172 wins at Texas A&M-Kingsville from 1979-1999). The Mustangs host six games at home for the second straight season. MSU is 86-21 at Memorial Stadium under Maskill.
Coach speak: “We don’t have any video on them. They aren’t Western New Mexico, and they aren’t the same Pueblo team from last year. We really don’t know what to expect when we show up there on Saturday.” - Maskill.
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Midwestern State at Colorado State-Pueblo college football preview
