A year and a half after leaving Alabama in search of a starting job, Phillip Ely has found it.
Monday morning, Toledo head coach Matt Campbell confirmed that Ely will be his starting quarterback for the opener against New Hampshire. Ely had been involved in an offseason-long competition with sophomore Logan Woodside and redshirt freshman Michael Julian.
Woodside, who had served as starter T.O. Owens’ primary backup last season, completing 21-of-41 passes for 240 yards and a touchdown, and Ely were listed as the co-No. 1 quarterbacks during spring practice.
After redshirting as a true freshman in 2011, Ely played in six games in 2012. He completed three-of-four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in very limited duty. Ely was listed as the No. 2 QB the first three weeks of the 2012 season, but after that was listed as the co-backup to AJ McCarron along with redshirt sophomore Blake Sims, who attempted 10 passes in limited action.
In January of 2013 it was reported Ely was looking to transfer from the Tide. The summer of last year he transferred into the Rockets football program.
After sitting out the 2013 season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, Ely will have two seasons of eligibility remaining, including this season.